Support services rendered to social workers employed by the Department of Social Development under Foster Care Division: A case of Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, Eastern Cape.
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Date
2025-11-15
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Fort Hare
Abstract
Social workers in Foster Care Division face detrimental challenges when undertaking foster care services. These challenges are overwhelming, leading to their rendering unsatisfactory services to clients. This necessitated this research’s goal of investigating support services rendered by the Department of Social Development in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality to capacitate social workers in the Foster Care Division. To obtain the findings, twenty-one participants including seventeen social workers who undertake foster care services and four members of the focus group were interviewed utilising the in-depth interview approach. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select participants of the study. The collected data was analysed thematically. Findings revealed that, while some support services are present, there are recognised gaps which hamper the social workers’ ability to effectively render quality services to clients and manage their well-being. The researcher made several recommendations for enhancing support services, such as policy guidance, regular supervision, equal access to resources by social workers and improved access to mental health resources. These recommendations will capacitate social workers, resulting in better outcomes for foster care.
Description
Masters dissertation
Keywords
Social Workers -- South Africa, Support Services -- South Africa
Citation
Jekero, B. (2025) Support services rendered to social workers employed by the Department of Social Development under Foster Care Division: A case of Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, Eastern Cape. Master of Social Work dissertation. University of Fort Hare.