PLUMBING THE BRAIN DRAIN OF SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL WORKERS MIGRATING TO THE UK: CHALLENGES FOR SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

This article reports research that was undertaken to uncover generalisations pertaining to themigration of South African social workers to the United Kingdom (UK). The intention was toidentify challenges for the future contribution of social service providers in South African if localsocial workers are to be retained in the country. In the South African social work milieu it isrecognised formally and informally that a significant number of social workers migrated to the UKduring the first decade after democracy. This can be classified as a distinct brain drain of socialworkers, which has a vital impact on social service delivery and social development (BusinessDay, 2005; Cape Times, 2004; Louw, 2003:xv-xvi; Herald, 2005). However, verifiable data on thebrain drain phenomenon in social work are not available (Business Day, 2005). With reference toSaravia and Miranda’s (2004) use of the metaphor, a plumbing of the South African socialworkers’ brain drain to the UK is thus needed. This plumbing is effected by describing theresearch design and methodology, sketching the background for the survey, reporting the surveyresults, and identifying challenges for social service provider

Editorial

This edition of Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk offers a range of themes to the reader, with topics focusing on income-generating activities, homelessness, gangsterism, substance abuse, effective parenting, sexual orientation, community development practitioner profiling and supervision of social workers

Editorial

This second edition in 2023 of Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk offers eight articles with themes centred on social work during the hitherto unknown Covid-19 pandemic, child protection, supervision in different contexts and substance abuse respectively

Social work in South Africa: context, concepts and some critical reflections

South Africa adopted a social development approach towards social welfare after the first democratic elections of the country in 1994. On a continuum of social service delivery, the primary target group is the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable people. It appears however after two decades of democracy, that social development, as intended in government policies, differs drastically from practice realities. However, strengths imbedded in the social work profession throughout the history of South Africa are shielding social workers from despair and disillusionment that may erode their pride and professionalism.Sudáfrica adoptó un enfoque de desarrollo social orientado hacia el bienestar social después de las primeras elecciones democráticas que hubo en el país en 1994. Una asistencia continua de servicios sociales se destina al grupo más pobre entre los indigentes y las personas más vulnerables. Después de dos décadas de democracia, se tiene la impresión que el desarrollo social así como lo consideran las políticas de gobierno no corresponde con las prácticas en la realidad. Sin embargo, los puntos fuertes de la profesión en el ámbito del trabajo social a través de la historia de Sudáfrica, protegen a los trabajadores sociales de la desesperación y la desilusión que afectan su orgullo y profesionalidad.Il Sudafrica ha adottato un approccio allo sviluppo nelle proprie politi-che sociali dopo le prime elezioni democratiche del 1994. Nell'ambito dell'erogazione dei servizi sociali, il principale gruppo dei destinatari è rappresentato dai più poveri tra la popolazione indigente e vulnerabile. Dopo due decenni di democrazia appare chiaro che lo sviluppo sociale, come inteso nelle politiche del governo, sia drasticamente diverso dalla realtà. Tuttavia, i punti di forza sviluppati dal servizio sociale profes-sionale nel corso della storia del Sudafrica stanno proteggendo gli assi-stenti sociali dallo sconforto e dalla disillusione che potrebbero erodere il loro orgoglio e la loro professionalità

MANAGEMENT TASKS OF SOCIAL WORKERS SUPERVISING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) CENTRES: IDENTIFYING THE AREAS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Early Childhood Development (ECD) has become a priority area of social work, in both developed and developing countries. In this article, the term ECD supervisors refers to the social workers working with ECD centres in the capacity of supervisor. These social workers can provide valuable insight into the unique management tasks and associated professional development areas uniquely required when working in the ECD sector. The goal of this conceptual article is to identify these professional development areas of management tasks required from social workers who supervise ECD centres. Ultimately, these management tasks are synthesised into three categories, namely tasks which require technical, relational and administrative skills respectively. This is an attempt to preserve the institutional memory of South African social workers, given the current shift of ECD governance functions from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AN INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISION SESSION? REFLECTIONS OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

This article reports on qualitative research, aimed at acquiring an understanding of what transpires in an individual social work supervision session in South Africa. Findings reveal that supervision sessions are chiefly “open door” and “on the run”, with minimal evidence of critical reflection. A key recommendation stresses that the evolution of supervision in the country should enter a new phase as response to the hegemony of a neoliberal inspired managerial discourse in social work. The deliberate utilisation of more clinical educational and supportive elements, and critical reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action in supervision sessions is therefore recommended

Towards a conceptual framework for management and supervision of social workers within a social development paradigm

Please cite as follows:Engelbrecht, L. K. 2014. Towards a conceptual framework for management and supervision of social workers within a social development paradigm. International Social Work Conference. Kampala: Uganda.Power point slidesOriginal work

RETHINKING “CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

In this issue, we challenge readers with the salient question of whether charity always begins at home, particularly as the world witnessed a surge in armed conflicts around the globe in 2023, with devastating consequences for millions of people. As children are among the most vulnerable members of societies, the first three articles of this issue focus on them as a target group. Thereafter, attention is turned to women, older persons, and people dealing with mental health issues, as vulnerable groups. Recognising that social work, especially in a forensic context, increases the likelihood of secondary traumatic stress among social workers, we have also addressed this topic in the issue. In conclusion, a disaster-specific approach to the social work curriculum in an undergraduate social work course is presented. We also offer a book review covering the challenges arising from the interplay of culture and human rights through the lenses of emancipatory social work and Afrocentricity in a globalised world

The global social work definition: ontology, implications and challenges.

The revised global definition for social work promotes the profession's commitment to social change and development, social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people. By reviewing the implications of this definitional shift and locating this within existing influential social work ontological models, the implications for social work within global and national contexts are critically reviewed. The study found that the changes to the global definition, along with recognition of the importance of strengthening knowledge and theory, encourage critical review of the implications of a shift from an emphasis on individual approaches to the importance of collective and macro perspectives in social work intervention. The location and exploration of these debates using existing key ontological frameworks and socio-economic contexts encourages critical reflection on the purpose, role and function of social work in society. Social work must critically review what it means by, along with the implications of, the profession's commitments. The profession needs to consider how theory, its academic discipline and social work interventions support these commitments. The critical examination of ontological frameworks, indigenous knowledge and social work interventions is vital to inform social work education and practice to enable a reinvigorated profession able to address the contemporary challenges of both society and individuals

Effective financial management of welfare organisations in South Africa : recommendations to social work managers

Please cite as follows:Engelbrecht, L. K. & Theron, S. M. 2010. Effektiewe finansiele bestuur van welsynsorganisasies in Suid-Afrika : aanbevelings vir maatskaplikewerkbestuurders. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 39(3):213-218.The original publication is available at http://socialwork.journals.ac.zaSocial work managers are becoming increasingly involved in financial planning and control of welfare organisations due to the fact that successful management of a welfare organisation does not only revolve around the quality of social work services. The purpose of this article is to make recommendations to social work managers in South Africa regarding effective financial management, by exploring, both theoretically and empirically, three indicators namely the financial state, financial achievement and the income profile of a welfare organisation.Publishers' Versio