School of Human and Community Development (ETDs)

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    The perceptions of social workers on the implementation of the Occupation Specific Dispensation policy (OSD) within the Department of Social Development in the Johannesburg Region
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2020) Mathebula, Sipho Sol; Masinga, Poppy
    The Occupation Specific Dispensation (0SD) policy was introduced in the public service for social workers in 2009 as a strategy to recruit and retain social workers with the introduction of new salary scales, career pathing, pay and grade progression and recognition of appropriate experience. The perceptions of social workers on the implementation of the OSD policy have not been established and this lack of knowledge leaves a gap in understanding the perceived impact this policy has had on social workers. The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of social workers on the implementation of the Occupation Specific Dispensation policy within the Department of Social Development in the Johannesburg Region. Since implementation of the policy, there has been research studies conducted on the outcomes of the OSD policy within the public health sector yet no studies have been conduct that focus on the challenges encountered by social workers in the implementation of the policy. The study utilised the qualitative research approach which was exploratory and descriptive in nature. The collective case study design was adopted. A sample of ten social workers and three key informants were selected using purposive sampling. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic content analysis. The key finding was that the OSD policy was not effective in recruitment since it is rigid and inflexible. Another concern raised was the long period it took to move from one occupational level to the next resulting in a demotivated and demoralised workforce. The study also found that there was management bias in the implementation of the performance management and development system. The study contributes to our understanding of the perceptions about the unintended consequences of the OSD policy and how these are perceived to have impacted negatively on the recruitment and retention of social workers.
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    Factors that affect job satisfaction: perceptions of child protection social workers employed by the Department of Social Development in the Johannesburg Metro Region
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Tlakula, Caroline; Gerrand, Priscilla
    The White Paper of Social Welfare (1997) informed the restructuring of services and social welfare programmes in both the public and the private sectors to address the previously discriminating welfare services in existence during the apartheid era. Currently, one of the five main programmes rendered by the Department of Social Development (DSD) is directed at children and families. In this regard, child protection social workers play an essential role. However, before conducting the study I had personally observed that some of my work colleagues rendering child protection services did not seem to be enjoying job satisfaction. It is well known that for employees to render quality services they need to enjoy job satisfaction. Thus, the purpose of my research was to explore the perceptions of child protection social workers regarding what factors are affecting their job satisfaction. Hertzberg’s motivation- hygiene theory underpinned the research. Based on the constructivist paradigm and qualitative approach, a case study design was implemented to achieve the main aim and objectives of the study. Ten child protection social workers who are rendering services in the Johannesburg Metropolitan region were purposively recruited and selected. Data gathering took place by conducting personal, semi-structured interviews with the participants using an interview guide to steer the interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data gathered. Research findings indicated specific intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors affect child protection social workers’ job satisfaction. These findings will be made available to the management of the DSD in the Johannesburg Metro Region.
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    Experiences of probation officers working at Department of Social Development, Gauteng, JHB Metro Region on occupational stress and their coping mechanisms
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Monnye, Olebogeng
    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) states that the majority of children in conflict with the law have committed petty crimes such as alcohol abuse, begging, absenteeism from school and vagrancy. Probation officers have an important role to play in the lives of people in conflict with the law. Some of their responsibilities include conducting thorough investigations to assess the offenders who have committed crimes. It can be understood that the nature of their job can at times cause occupational stress. The aim of the study was to explore the occupational stressors and coping mechanisms adopted by probation officers working at the Department of Social Development (DSD), Johannesburg (Jhb) Metro Region in the Gauteng province of South Africa. A qualitative approach was used to conduct the study. Fifteen participants were selected using non-probability purposive sampling. Face to face in-depth interviews were conducted to collect the data. The interviews were audio recorded and the data was analysed using thematic analysis. It was anticipated that insights into the occupational stressors and coping strategies adopted by probation officers would be revealed. This study revealed that probation officers have high caseloads, but have good coping mechanisms to curb occupational stress in that they confide in their supervisors and their colleagues. The significance of the study for social work was that it may help probation officers to determine how they can better deal with occupational stress. Little research has been conducted in South Africa regarding probation officers’ occupational stressors. Therefore, this study contributed to literature on the matter.