The mentoring of officers commanding in the SA Military Health Service (SAMHS): a military social work perspective

[摘要] An exploratory research design together with a quantitative research approach werechosen to determine whether military social workers possess the necessaryknowledge, skills and values to mentor Officers Commanding (OCs) in the SouthAfrican Military Health Service (SAMHS). The motivation for this study was based onquestions the researcher asked as to whether there was a link between the methodsin social work intervention processes, supervision and mentoring processes. Duringthe preliminary investigation, the researcher found that no prior research under thisspecific subject was undertaken. The researcher also determined from her role asconsultant to Officers Commanding in the SAMHS, that whereas military socialworkers received supervision upon joining the South African National Defence Force(SANDF), OCs, received no formal mentoring. It was also found that although amentoring policy in the Department of Defence (DOD) existed, no evidence existedthat a mentoring programme was implemented in the SAMHS. The goal of the studyis therefore to provide military social workers with a framework of a mentoringprocess for Officers Commanding in the SAMHS.The literature study firstly focused on describing the military social work environmentin which the military social worker is employed, as well as theoretical frameworks thatguide the military social worker's task. Although more than one theoretical frameworkwas discussed, the main focus was on the systems theory and ecologicalperspective. The work environment of the OC was also included, as well as thechallenges of their functions, tasks and roles in the SAMHS. Primarily, the literaturestudy explored the knowledge, skills and values of the military social worker and thementoring process.The sample that was selected for this study was 46 military social workers thatrepresented all the chief military social workers in specialist posts and those with ahigher ranking from Captain to Colonel. A quantitative investigation was undertakenby means of a questionnaire which was completed in groups in the respectiveprovinces.The results of the investigation largely confirmed the findings of the literature studynamely that military social workers do fit the requirements to mentor. Theserequirements to mentor were evident in the results of the knowledge, skills andvalues of military social workers and their understanding of the parallels between the methods in social work, supervision and the mentoring process. The results gave anindication of the knowledge, skills and values of military social workers to mentorOfficers Commanding in the SAMHS, and the framework of the mentoring processand how it relates to the casework, group work and supervision processes in socialwork.The recommendations demonstrated that a central body should be identified to coordinateand plan a mentoring programme in the SAMHS. The recommendationsalso include that the Directorate Social Work should provide clear guidelines on howmilitary social workers should implement the DOD Mentoring policy, and ensure thatmilitary social workers are trained in staff development methods and its processes.The recommendations included further research: both quantitative and qualitativeresearch by means of questionnaires and interviews with OCs, as well as monitoringand evaluation of the mentoring process. This information will benefit military socialworkers in their training as mentors. In implementing these recommendations,military social workers will be able to contribute significantly to the development ofOfficers Commanding in the SAMHS and the profession of social work.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University