The number of young people admitted to child and youth care centres is constantly increasing in South Africa. These are young people who might have experienced extreme trauma related to abuse, neglect, abandonment, family dysfunction, loss of a parent or caregiver, or those with behavioural challenges and therefore in need of residential care. Child and youth care workers are trained to assist and care for them. The provision of this care presupposes key tasks with behaviour management being one of them. In this study, we explored the adequacy and efficacy of training offered to child and youth care workers and their preparedness to successfully cope with their behaviour management tasks. It focused on the educational preparation of child and youth care workers to assist young people with behaviour management challenges in child and youth care centres. A qualitative approach with an exploratory, descriptive, and contextual design was used in this study. The population comprised child and youth care workers in KwaZulu-Natal who are working in residential child and youth care centres, and the sample size was suspended at 21 participants because of data saturation. A semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct individual telephonic interviews to collect data. The data collected were analysed using Tesch’s eight steps of analysis. In this study, we found that the main gap was in integrating and applying theory and practice resulting in difficulties to manage tasks relating to young people’s challenging behaviours.

In this paper, we use data generated through one-on-one interviews with 12 purposively sampled Child and Youth Care Workers to examine their narratives of work and life-related vulnerabilities and agency during the peak of the COVID-19 global pandemic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Our findings show that Child and Youth Care Workers were vulnerable to poor mental health. Indeed, working and socialising during the height of COVID-19 posed a mental toll on the Child and Youth Care Workers in this study, who experienced fear, uncertainty, anxiety and stress. Moreover, these workers faced challenges with working under the so-called new normal, which was instituted as part of a non-pharmaceutical response to slow and curb the spread of COVID-19. Finally, our findings show that Child and Youth Care Workers actively identified and applied specific emotionally-focused and physically-focused coping mechanisms to deal with the burden brought on by the pandemic. The study has implications for CYCWs working during crisis periods.

The Child and Youth Care (CYC) profession entails caring for children and youth at risk. The provision of this care includes various challenges with behaviour management being one of the main challenges. Children at risk are known to experience challenges in managing their own behaviours, thus needing Child and Youth Care workers (CYCWs) to assist in this area. Various studies have proven that CYCWs struggle with behaviour management. This study therefore intended to explore whether CYCWs are adequately and effectively trained and prepared to successfully cope with behaviour management challenges. This study focused on CYCWs educational preparation to assist children in residential care centres with behaviour management challenges. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between preparedness and practice of CYC workers in relation to managing the behaviours of children at risk. Methodology This study used a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. The population of this study was CYCWs in KwaZulu-Natal who are working in residential Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs). Two CYCCs were approached for data collection, with 11 participants from one CYCC and 10 from the other CYCC. Data was collected via individual interviews which were conducted telephonically due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The collected data was analysed by the researcher using Tesch’s eight steps of analysis. Findings The following four major themes emerged from the interviews: The most common challenging behaviours displayed by children in CYC residential centres; integration of theory and practice; children’s response to behaviour management and the use of alternatives in managing children’s challenging behaviours. Conclusion The growth of the CYC profession is dependent on the type of individuals professionalised for practice in the field. Hence, putting effort in developing the best type of training may contribute towards achieving the level of care and growth needed in children at risk.