Die forensiese maatskaplike werker as deskundige getuie in die hof

Abstract

Sexual abuse has a negative impact on a child's functioning to such an extent that even society functions negatively. These cases are referred to social workers on a daily basis. South Africa has no recognised prescriptions, selection or specialised training that enable social workers to deal with sexually abused children. Forensic social work, however, is a developing professional specialist field with the focus on interaction between the legal system and the human services systems. In this article the focus is on forensic social work as well as the knowledge, skills and experience that make this discipline a specialised field, to ensure that the court regards the forensic social worker as an expert. In cases of sexual abuse, the correct submission of expert evidence, based on expertise and experience, will assist the court in understanding certain facts and coming to certain conclusions. It is further recommended that forensic social work be registered as a specialised field with the South African Council for Social Service Professions to ensure professional service delivery to deal with an escalating problem.