Evaluation of social work intervention in foster care placement in the Bojanala district of the North West Province, South Africa

Abstract

The main focus of this study was on exploring social work intervention in foster care placement. A qualitative method was adopted to obtain descriptive data about the social work intervention process in foster care services with specific reference to implementation of the Children's Act No 38 of 2005 as amended. In-depth interviews were conducted with the participants (social workers, foster parents and foster children) to gather qualitative data. Data from foster care files was also collected using a checklist to verify indicators for quality foster care. A non- probability sampling was used for the selection of twenty- five foster care files, twenty- five foster parents, twenty-five foster children and five social workers for the study. The document study was compared to the participant's point of view. The findings of the study provide knowledge of understanding social work intervention process in foster care placement and how the best interest of children can be served in foster care placements. Some gaps in foster care policies and practice have been identified. This study found that the Children's Act No 38 of 2005 as amended is not fully implemented by social workers who render foster care intervention at Bojanala District of the North West Province. It was revealed that most of the sections in the Act are violated by social workers. It was found that section 155 (2) which directs that foster care applications should be attended and finalised within 90 days from the reporting period is not implemented in the majority of cases. The study also revealed that foster care monitoring and supervision is not adequately done, which is a deviation to the foster care norms and standard that direct that foster care monitoring or supervision should be done by a social service professional after every six months. The study also found that sections 159 and 186 of the Children's Act No 38 of 2005 as amended have not been fully implemented as most of the cases expire before they can be reviewed. The ecological environment from which social workers practice, appeared to be a contributory factor to the violation of the Act. The study revealed that social workers practice in the environment where there is lack of office space, high caseload amongst social workers and lack of transport. The study also revealed that inadequate implementation of relevant sections in the Children's Act No 38 of 2005 as amended contributed to the many challenges that are experienced by foster care system today. Challenges such as foster care backlog, dysfunctional relationship between foster parents and foster children, mismanagement of foster care Grants and children displaying anti- social behaviour in foster care placement were discovered by the study. To improve quality of social worker's intervention in foster care placement, the ecological environment from which social workers practice need to be improved. This study recommends that: The Department of Social Development should consider allocating resources, including increasing manpower, and provision of office accommodation, transport and electronic equipment to social workers.