Barriers in implementing foster care services within a developmental approach in Nkangala district, Mpumalanga

[摘要] South Africa shifted from the residual approach to adopt a developmental approach tosocial service delivery through adopting the White Paper for Social Welfare (RSA,Ministry for Social Welfare and Population Development, 1997). This mandated the shiftfrom social welfare services to developmental welfare services. Included in theseservices is the foster care service; this is a child protection service which addressessection 28 (1b) of the South African constitutional endorsement, which states that'children have the right to family, parental or alternative care (Constitution of theRepublic of South Africa, 1996). In April 2010, the Children's Act 38 of 2005 wasinitiated and implemented as legislative policy on the matter, with guidelines concerningthe delivery of foster care services within the developmental approach.The goal of the study was to identify and describe barriers in the implementation of thefoster care services within a developmental approach in Nkangala District,Mpumalanga. The research followed a qualitative approach whereby data was collectedthrough focus group discussions. The participants were 13 social workers from sevenchild protection organisations in Nkangala District, Mpumalanga.From the key findings it was gathered that the majority of foster care social workershave no conceptual or contextual understanding of the delivery of foster care serviceswithin the developmental approach.The researcher recommends the formation of training manuals for Nkangala Districtfoster care social workers, which clearly define developmental foster care services and the role of social workers. The researcher also recommends that social workers inNkangala District take up the responsibility of being up to date with new developmentsthat arise in social service delivery. The researcher further recommends that theDepartment of Social Development should consider reviewing the amount of moneyallocated to Non-profit Organisations for developmental statutory services, so as toensure effective service delivery.

[发布机构] University of Pretoria