Measuring the Need for Educational Supervision Amongst Child Protection Social Workers: An Exploration

Abstract

Supervision is a potentially effective tool for empowering social workers to perform their duties to their optimal abilities. There are, however, indications from research and practice that this potential has not always been fully realised in South Africa. This especially applies to educational supervision. The aim of the study on which this article is based was to help address this deficiency by profiling the educational supervision needs of a group of child protection social workers of a provincial department of social development. Its results could be used to address deficiencies not only in that province, but also further afield.

‘There is not much we can do’: The roles and challenges of Nigeria's child protection social workers

“…Furthermore, in their assessment of the roles of CPSWs in South Africa, Sibanda and Lombard (2015) noted that it is their responsibility to ensure that the provisions of the Children's Act 38 of 2005 best serve the interests of children and their families by empowering them, ensuring appropriateness, universal access, participation, self-reliance, social integration, and accessibility. Additionally, Mokoele and Weyers (2021) noted that a CPSW, under the South African Department of Social Development, must handle all aspects of foster care, including intake, court hearings for new children, foster care supervision, and reconstruction services for biological parents. However, CPSWs are often limited by high workloads due to staff shortages, inadequate training, lack of resources (Sibanda & Lombard, 2015), and handling other programmes of the department that are not child-related (Mokoele & Weyers, 2021).…”

“…Additionally, Mokoele and Weyers (2021) noted that a CPSW, under the South African Department of Social Development, must handle all aspects of foster care, including intake, court hearings for new children, foster care supervision, and reconstruction services for biological parents. However, CPSWs are often limited by high workloads due to staff shortages, inadequate training, lack of resources (Sibanda & Lombard, 2015), and handling other programmes of the department that are not child-related (Mokoele & Weyers, 2021). Also, Sibanda and Lombard (2015) found institutional barriers that were caused by the lack of uniformity, a lack of knowledge of the statute provisions, and a lack of respect for the CPSWs by leaders of the organization who have no social work background.…”

“…Also, Sibanda and Lombard (2015) found institutional barriers that were caused by the lack of uniformity, a lack of knowledge of the statute provisions, and a lack of respect for the CPSWs by leaders of the organization who have no social work background. Mokoele and Weyers (2021) recommended supervision in empowering social workers to overcome the overwhelming demands of the job.…”

“…A CPSW in Egypt must promote sexual education in order to prevent abuse, but their 'culture of silence' hinders them. A recommendation made by Riad and Forden (2021) (Mokoele & Weyers, 2021;Naidoo & Kasiram, 2006;Sibanda & Lombard, 2015). CPSWs in South Africa also have to deal with other cases besides children (Mokoele & Weyers, 2021).…”

“…Research on the roles and challenges among CPSWs in SSA have shown similarities with those of the developed nations. Investigations in South Africa have focused on unearthing the roles and challenges of CPSWs and optimizing practitioners' effective provision of services (Mokoele & Weyers, 2021; Shiller & Strydom, 2018; Sibanda & Lombard, 2015; Truter & Fouché, 2015). Due to the escalating incidence of poverty, substance misuse, and disease (HIV/AIDs) related deaths, the number of orphaned children and those at risk of losing parental care increased alongside the need for CPSs in South Africa (Shiller & Strydom, 2018).…”