Children placed in alternative care: experiences of primary caregivers pending finalisation of the Children’s Court Inquiry

Abstract

The goal of the child welfare system in South Africa is to create preventative and early intervention programmes. However, statutory intervention becomes necessary when a child needs emergency protection. The removal of a child from their primary caregiver and placing the child in alternative care can be traumatic for both child and primary caregiver. However, most research studies have focused on children’s experiences of removal to alternative care pending finalisation of the Children’s Court Inquiry. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of primary caregivers whose child had been removed from their care and placed in temporary safe care. To explore their experiences a qualitative approach, specifically a case study research design. The theoretical framework underpinning the study was ecosystems perspective related to the person-in- environment social work concept, and Kübler-Ross model of grief. The study was undertaken in Johannesburg and the sample consisted of 12 purposively selected adult primary caregivers. To gather data, face-to-face interviews were conducted. An interview guide comprising of open-ended questions, was utilised as a research tool. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The main findings of the study were that regardless of socio-economic status, age and reasons for the removal, most primary caregiver usually feel devastated when their child is removed. The sometimes develop a lack of trust in the justice system and the social work profession. Recommendations are made, based on research findings, of how social workers can improve the quality of services rendered to primary caregivers when statutory intervention is necessary and the child is placed in temporary safe care pending finalisation of the Children’s Court Inquiry