It focused on how social workers explained the discrepancies between their preferred roles and responsibilities and the realities of their daily practice. Through engagement in reflexive dialogue, social workers began to understand that they were not simply passive victims of the system. To understand what factors may prevent social workers from engaging in their preferred roles and responsibilities.
What are the factors that prevent social workers from engaging in their preferred roles and responsibilities.
SOCIAL WORK: FROM COLONIALISM AND APARTHIED TO DEMOCRACY
In the second part of the literature review, chapter three, the impact of neoliberalism and management style on social work practice will be brought forward. The policies and laws of the welfare system under colonialism and during the apartheid era were brought forward. The chapter then discusses the impact of the inherited previous policies on social work practice in the democratic country.
This is due to the fact that the lives of the social work service users have not improved under the new labor laws. The struggle for social justice is also seen in the Ten Point Plan of the Department of Social Development which was developed in 2008. 45 CHALLENGES SOCIAL WORKERS ARE MADE IN IMPLEMENTING THE INTEGRATED AND DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH TO WELFARE.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
According to Crotty (1998), research design depends on the research objectives in order to be able to answer the research questions. Therefore descriptions always depend on the perceptions, dispositions, sensibilities and sensibilities of the describer (Giorgi, 1992; and Wolcott, 1994). Given the sensitivity of the study, some social workers were afraid to be part of the research.
At the start of the investigation, I was aware of the possible threat to my position in the organization and I was willing to take the risk. They all signed the consent form after the explanation and availability of the consent form. Although the interview guide was in English, some participants preferred to be interviewed in IsiZulu for better understanding.
This was done by creating a platform to discuss the findings of the study with DSD social workers in the same office who were not part of the study to see if they shared the same experience. This was done with the aim of raising the awareness of social workers about the impact of current working conditions on their practices. This was done without revealing the identity of the social workers involved in the in-depth interviews.
Ethics in research is concerned with the morality of the study being conducted (Jameton, 1984). The emphasis is on “protecting the dignity of subjects {in} the publication of research information” (Fouka and Mantzorou, 2011: 4).
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
A third worked in a retail store as an inventor before studying social work. The main reasons for choosing social work were the commitment to human rights and social justice and contributing to the reduction of poverty. Pelton (1999) stated that the mission of social work is to promote social justice and that justice must be addressed at the individual level.
Four of them acknowledged that many people were oppressed, disadvantaged and marginalized during apartheid and stated that they came into social work with a vision to liberate these people through community dialogue, psychological support, skills development, advocacy and networking with educational institutions. The definition of social work states that social work involves people and structures to solve life's challenges and improve well-being. The definition of social work as revised in July 2014 by the International Federation of Social Work (IFSW) and the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) emphasizes that social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, empowerment and liberation of people is at the heart of this profession.
Although all of the participants entered social work with noble aspirations, they found themselves disillusioned in the field. 70 He further added that there was a greater gap between social worker's aspirations and the realities of social work practice. Some of the reasons given by social workers and student social workers in the recruitment and retention strategy were the student's knowledge about the low salary levels of Social Workers in practice. They "generally indicated that social work is not financially a profitable career to pursue and also that the profession offers very few benefits and few career opportunities" (Department of Social Development, 2003).
Ten out of ten social workers reported that the DSD did not seem to have a clue of what the profession of social worker was. Howe (1996) states that by managing and supervising social work activities; social work now involves a shift from "deep" to "surface" social work.
LEADERS ASSUME: THEORY Y LEADE
74 At a climate meeting, when social workers complained that their activities were controlled by management, one of the supervisors responded with: "the old staff were taught to obey their 'principals' and complain later, in fact we don't have to ask. questions from our principals. Our job as employees is to carry out mandates from our principals and it is unfortunate that the new staff did not get this message; therefore they want many answers before they act”. What the supervisor said here contradicts the definition of social work because social work is a profession that needs critical thinkers, challengers who don't take things for granted, people who question things, and people , who are not afraid to confront situations in an attempt to ensure that human rights are realized and enjoyed by all (Smith, 2008).
Behavioral theories state that there are two general types of behavior that leaders exhibit: concern for people and concern for production.
Theory x: leader assumes Theory y: leader assumes
78 She was of the opinion that this was related to the knowledge gap between management and junior staff in the office. Social workers believed that political interference was eroding the legitimacy of the profession. This is the expression of one of the participants: "I don't pay attention to things that I know very well that I will never get".
These are some of the efforts that social workers have made in an effort to respond to client demands and protect the department from negative actions by the public. One participant said she used the Social Work Indaba as an opportunity to express their concerns and challenges in the presence of the MEC. One of the actions taken by social workers in the office was to draft a petition, sign it, and fax it to headquarters and their union.
They detailed their dissatisfaction with working conditions and treatment by departmental superiors. Although this act caused tension between the workers and management, it was soon calmed down as some of the management staff realized the plight of the social workers. Social workers must be serious and take social action and be able to carry it out so that everyone sits up and takes note of the importance of social work.
When advertising for leadership positions, differentiated education levels should be part of the criteria. Social workers in the public sector are often used as political actors, to serve the interests of the ruling party.
CHAPTER SIX
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Social workers were limited by the fear of the unknown and of reprisals if they fought for justice. Social workers almost always never finished what they started due to obvious interference from upper management in the department. The enforced conformity in the office has taken away the spirit of social work among the new social workers.
Hire more social workers to reduce the workload of social workers. 99 period which is not seen as quality of work by social workers and service users. Department of Social Development to improve the salary of social workers and move them from level seven to level eight upon employment.
The department to encourage further study in social workers by including educational level as part of the criteria for higher positions. The department must consult with social workers when introducing new employment screening forms for social work. The department needs to stop thinking of social workers as puppets who have no brain to think.
Social workers must also act responsibly so that the need for supervision is mitigated. The love for social work was still present among the majority of social workers, but the work was clearly different from what they expected.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies. 2010) 'I want to have my future, I have a dialogue': social work in Sri Lanka between neo-capitalism and human rights. The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development: a place to come together and be effective in a globalized world. The International Federation of Social Workers, the International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Council for Social Work.
2010) Professionals without a profession: Redesigning case management in Dutch local welfare agencies, European journal of social work. The ANC government's dilemma in delivering a fair social security system to the "new" South Africa. According to requirements, I am expected to conduct research based in social work to improve the knowledge base in the social science field.
To understand what the social workers in this agency think are the main purposes of social work. Understand what their roles are in the agency and whether they are doing what they think they should be doing according to the international definition of social work. I agree to participate in a survey about social work experiences in the DSD office.
What personal factors may prevent the pursuit of social work's core mandates of social justice and human rights. What strategies do they think can be adopted to deal with limitations in pursuing social work's core mandates.
