Criteria social workers employ in making child custody recommendations
- Authors: Froneman, Anna Petronella
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Custody of children -- South Africa Social work with children -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:696 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006414
- Description: During this study, an attempt was made to investigate the process employed by social workers in conducting child custody evaluations and making decisions related to the process, as well as to provide insight into which criteria are currently being used. The goal was to explore the perceived usefulness of these criteria from the perspective of social work, and to assess the adequacy of the requirements of the custody report in reflecting the above process and decision-making. In order to meet this goal, literature and empirical studies were conducted. The literature study focuses on the history of child custody matters, custody decision-making and legislation, types of custody arrangements, criteria social workers employ in making child custody recommendations, evaluator bias and custody evaluation reports. During the empirical research phase, a non-probability purposive sampling procedure was adopted. Five family counsellors from the office of the family advocate serving the Eastern Cape were selected. After an interview schedule was compiled to cover certain topics and their sequence, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the family counsellors. In order to compare the criteria stated in the interviews with the criteria applied in the custody reports, three cases from each family counsellor were selected and the final custody report and recommendation were studied. This study has revealed the following: some of the family counsellors experience proqlems with the process of custody evaluations; certain aspects regarding the process are not in line with some ofthe literature; some of the criteria used by the family counsellors are not evident in the custody reports and are not discussed in detail; a lack of training exists for the family counsellors; and the family counsellors experience some form of bias. Finally, based on the research findings, recommendations were made regarding the process of custody evaluation, the criteria social workers employ when conducting child custody evaluations, training and bias of family counsellors, the role of the family advocate and possible future research.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Froneman, Anna Petronella
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Custody of children -- South Africa Social work with children -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:696 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006414
- Description: During this study, an attempt was made to investigate the process employed by social workers in conducting child custody evaluations and making decisions related to the process, as well as to provide insight into which criteria are currently being used. The goal was to explore the perceived usefulness of these criteria from the perspective of social work, and to assess the adequacy of the requirements of the custody report in reflecting the above process and decision-making. In order to meet this goal, literature and empirical studies were conducted. The literature study focuses on the history of child custody matters, custody decision-making and legislation, types of custody arrangements, criteria social workers employ in making child custody recommendations, evaluator bias and custody evaluation reports. During the empirical research phase, a non-probability purposive sampling procedure was adopted. Five family counsellors from the office of the family advocate serving the Eastern Cape were selected. After an interview schedule was compiled to cover certain topics and their sequence, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the family counsellors. In order to compare the criteria stated in the interviews with the criteria applied in the custody reports, three cases from each family counsellor were selected and the final custody report and recommendation were studied. This study has revealed the following: some of the family counsellors experience proqlems with the process of custody evaluations; certain aspects regarding the process are not in line with some ofthe literature; some of the criteria used by the family counsellors are not evident in the custody reports and are not discussed in detail; a lack of training exists for the family counsellors; and the family counsellors experience some form of bias. Finally, based on the research findings, recommendations were made regarding the process of custody evaluation, the criteria social workers employ when conducting child custody evaluations, training and bias of family counsellors, the role of the family advocate and possible future research.
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Exploring the needs and experiences of the social worker as an intermediary
- Authors: Jarman, Renette
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Social workers , Mediation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:698 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006419 , Social workers , Mediation
- Description: During this research an attempt was made to gain an understanding of the experiences and needs of the social workers acting as intermediaries for the sexually abused children in the criminal court during the trials of perpetrators. To achieve this, ten social workers that have performed the role of intermediary were interviewed. Research as well as literature on this topic is limited and it is believed that this study will present a valuable basis to pursue in further research as well as assist social workers already rendering intermediary services. Literature that was available was found to be critical of the adversarial system and the negative elements associated with the system, especially for the child witness. The study found that there are many problems associated with the intermediary system. The most important issue is the delay between the decision to prosecute and the trial as this impacts negatively on the child witness. In addition social workers acting as intermediaries are inadequately trained and are not supervised in this role. As a result very few are willing to continue with the procedure. Nevertheless the intermediary system is adjudged better than the adversarial system, especially as the child witness no longer has to face the alleged perpetrator in an open court. The thesis ends with recommendations for addressing the concerns of intermediaries in order to strengthen the system.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Jarman, Renette
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Social workers , Mediation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:698 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006419 , Social workers , Mediation
- Description: During this research an attempt was made to gain an understanding of the experiences and needs of the social workers acting as intermediaries for the sexually abused children in the criminal court during the trials of perpetrators. To achieve this, ten social workers that have performed the role of intermediary were interviewed. Research as well as literature on this topic is limited and it is believed that this study will present a valuable basis to pursue in further research as well as assist social workers already rendering intermediary services. Literature that was available was found to be critical of the adversarial system and the negative elements associated with the system, especially for the child witness. The study found that there are many problems associated with the intermediary system. The most important issue is the delay between the decision to prosecute and the trial as this impacts negatively on the child witness. In addition social workers acting as intermediaries are inadequately trained and are not supervised in this role. As a result very few are willing to continue with the procedure. Nevertheless the intermediary system is adjudged better than the adversarial system, especially as the child witness no longer has to face the alleged perpetrator in an open court. The thesis ends with recommendations for addressing the concerns of intermediaries in order to strengthen the system.
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Perspectives on inter-professional collaboration : mediation
- Authors: Tatchell, Dolores
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Divorce mediation -- South Africa , Custody of children-- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:707 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006519 , Divorce mediation -- South Africa , Custody of children-- South Africa
- Description: This research is based on the continuous search for alternatives in dealing with custody and access of minor children in divorcing families. In spite of the Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987, providing for mediation, it did not lead to the widespread implementation of mediation as an alternative form of dispute resolution in divorce matters. The family advocate as provided for in the Act, serves to protect the interest of minor children in disputes. However, custody evaluation is still used to determine the custody of minor children. Custody evaluation comprises an in depth study and assessment of the structure and functioning of the family made by a social worker and written up in the form of an evaluative report which is then submitted to the family advocate. It occurred to the researcher that there had to be better ways of dealing with custody disputes and consequently the damage done by the parents who fight over their children without any regard for the children’s feelings. It was considered an option to find out from the professionals directly involved with divorce and custody disputes why they have not considered alternatives, such as mediation, to resolve the disputes arising out of a divorce. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five social workers and five attorneys to gain their perspectives on mediation, how the two professions could cooperate to assist divorcing couples and how inter-professional collaboration could be used to promote the use of mediation in East London. The family advocate was identified as a key role player. The possibility of mandatory mediation was raised with recommendations that it be considered. The co-mediation model was raised to enhance inter-professional collaboration. Social workers see their role as mediating custody issues where the attorneys see their role as mediating division of property and assets. Both professions recognize that they have their own unique contribution to make. Both social workers and attorneys have been found to be willing to collaborate with each other to make a mediation service available to divorcing couples
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tatchell, Dolores
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Divorce mediation -- South Africa , Custody of children-- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:707 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006519 , Divorce mediation -- South Africa , Custody of children-- South Africa
- Description: This research is based on the continuous search for alternatives in dealing with custody and access of minor children in divorcing families. In spite of the Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987, providing for mediation, it did not lead to the widespread implementation of mediation as an alternative form of dispute resolution in divorce matters. The family advocate as provided for in the Act, serves to protect the interest of minor children in disputes. However, custody evaluation is still used to determine the custody of minor children. Custody evaluation comprises an in depth study and assessment of the structure and functioning of the family made by a social worker and written up in the form of an evaluative report which is then submitted to the family advocate. It occurred to the researcher that there had to be better ways of dealing with custody disputes and consequently the damage done by the parents who fight over their children without any regard for the children’s feelings. It was considered an option to find out from the professionals directly involved with divorce and custody disputes why they have not considered alternatives, such as mediation, to resolve the disputes arising out of a divorce. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five social workers and five attorneys to gain their perspectives on mediation, how the two professions could cooperate to assist divorcing couples and how inter-professional collaboration could be used to promote the use of mediation in East London. The family advocate was identified as a key role player. The possibility of mandatory mediation was raised with recommendations that it be considered. The co-mediation model was raised to enhance inter-professional collaboration. Social workers see their role as mediating custody issues where the attorneys see their role as mediating division of property and assets. Both professions recognize that they have their own unique contribution to make. Both social workers and attorneys have been found to be willing to collaborate with each other to make a mediation service available to divorcing couples
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Social workers perceptions on unionisation and collective bargaining : an exploratory study of the central region of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Dyakala, Tumeka
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Social workers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Attitudes , Labor unions -- South Africa , Collective bargaining -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:695 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006405 , Social workers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Attitudes , Labor unions -- South Africa , Collective bargaining -- South Africa
- Description: This study explores primarily the views of social workers in the Central region of the Eastern Cape on unionisation and collective bargaining, and at a secondary level the views of their employers and of the trade unions organising social workers, regarding social workers' involvement and non-involvement in these processes. It examines the paradox of compatibility of professionalism and unionism. There are two schools of thought regarding compatibility of professionalism and unionisation one views these concepts as antagonistic whilst the other views these concepts as complementary. Some social workers have been reluctant to participate in trade unions in the past until recently. Reasons advanced for their recent accelerated involvement in trade unions are explored in this study. Social workers views on the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 as the source of the legal framework, within which trade unions and employers interact, through the process of collective bargaining are explored. Proposed alternative mechanisms to these processes as perceived by social workers are closely examined. Semi-structured, self administered questionnaires were distributed to social workers whilst semi-structured interviews were conducted with employer representatives and trade union officials. This helped the researcher to have a broader view of the situation. Findings point to a scenario of disunity of both employers and employees in the social work profession. The study is a pioneering effort in the Central region and sets a way forward for further exploration of this subject. It is hoped that this study will make a worthwhile contribution to the social work profession's industrial relations field
- Full Text:
- Authors: Dyakala, Tumeka
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Social workers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Attitudes , Labor unions -- South Africa , Collective bargaining -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:695 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006405 , Social workers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Attitudes , Labor unions -- South Africa , Collective bargaining -- South Africa
- Description: This study explores primarily the views of social workers in the Central region of the Eastern Cape on unionisation and collective bargaining, and at a secondary level the views of their employers and of the trade unions organising social workers, regarding social workers' involvement and non-involvement in these processes. It examines the paradox of compatibility of professionalism and unionism. There are two schools of thought regarding compatibility of professionalism and unionisation one views these concepts as antagonistic whilst the other views these concepts as complementary. Some social workers have been reluctant to participate in trade unions in the past until recently. Reasons advanced for their recent accelerated involvement in trade unions are explored in this study. Social workers views on the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 as the source of the legal framework, within which trade unions and employers interact, through the process of collective bargaining are explored. Proposed alternative mechanisms to these processes as perceived by social workers are closely examined. Semi-structured, self administered questionnaires were distributed to social workers whilst semi-structured interviews were conducted with employer representatives and trade union officials. This helped the researcher to have a broader view of the situation. Findings point to a scenario of disunity of both employers and employees in the social work profession. The study is a pioneering effort in the Central region and sets a way forward for further exploration of this subject. It is hoped that this study will make a worthwhile contribution to the social work profession's industrial relations field
- Full Text:
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