The factors predisposing social workers to burnout in the social services organizations of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ramphele, Thamaga Zacharia
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Burn out (Psychology) , Social workers -- Psychology , Job stress , Social service -- Research , Social workers -- Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:6059 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006667 , Burn out (Psychology) , Social workers -- Psychology , Job stress , Social service -- Research , Social workers -- Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This work was based on an investigation of the subject of burnout, as observed by the researcher among social workers that worked for various social services organizations - both Government Departments and Non-Governmental Organizations - based in the Eastern Cape Province. The study of burnout was conducted with the aim to obtain information from the respondents about their conditions at work, and how those conditions contributed, as alleged, to burnout experienced by them. A qualitative research method was used as an approach that the researcher found best in that it allowed for an in-depth probe into the circumstances of the respondents (including the attitudes and emotions of the respondents), to give a broad picture of the situation as experienced by the respondents at work. A qualitative method was handled through the exploratory research principle of sampling and gathering of data, as the researcher felt it a sufficiently appropriate route to help yield the required outcomes of the study. The researcher's motivation to pursue the research was prompted by several indicators which included an article in the Daily Dispatch of 26 August 2003 that wrote 'Social workers quit in droves' and some personal contact with graduated students of social work, recently employed as social workers in various settings. Interesting dynamics about social work practice and its frustrations surfaced, and out of that premise, the researcher felt that it was an opportune moment to carry out an investigation to discover the facts about burnout as experienced by social workers. The findings on the research would be published, and the researcher intended to inform the social work community about the outcomes of research, hoping that the information would become useful to them in curtailing or preventing future encounters of burnout as experienced by them at the work place. In other words, recommendations for solutions would be provided based on the findings as an outcome of that investigation. To allow for the success of the research process, the researcher planned to draw from several resource centers and other researchers' data, any valuable piece of information, record, or existing data that could assist in evaluating information that became available during data collection. Such information was seen as very important since it helped in making the data analysis process easier and more than enough information could thus be obtained. Finally the researcher had found the study quite fascinating in that it addressed human concerns in the form of social work issues at work, which the researcher personally considered important and shared as one of the issues affecting social work professionals.
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Exploring job satisfaction amongst government social workers in East London
- Authors: Sela, Michelle
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Social workers -- Supervision of , Social workers -- Professional ethics , Social workers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Attitudes , Social service -- Vocational guidance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:705 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006499 , Social workers -- Supervision of , Social workers -- Professional ethics , Social workers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Attitudes , Social service -- Vocational guidance
- Description: During this research an attempt was made to gain an understanding of job satisfaction amongst government social workers. To achieve this, twenty social workers employed at the Department of Welfare in East London and Mdantsane were interviewed. South African literature on this topic is limited and it is believed that this study will present a valuable basis to pursue in further research. Literature that was consulted was found to be supportive of the theoretical notion that social work has long been recognised as being a stressful profession and that the nature of social work practice itself can be potentially stressful. The study found that there are many stressors and dissatisfactions which government social workers are currently experiencing. Some of the social workers have indicated a desire to leave the profession as a result of the dissatisfactions. The study findings suggest a need for combining oganisational with individual oriented initiatives to decrease the many stressors the social workers are experiencing. The thesis ends with recommendations of various strategies for addressing the concerns of the social workers in order to increase their job satisfaction
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