The challenges faced by statutory social workers in rendering foster care services to undocumented children

Abstract

Africa, there are several undocumented children who are found to in need of care and protection. Therefore, South Africa designed the Children’s Act no 38 of 2005 which seeks to ensure that the basic and the financial needs of all children are met. A foster care service is designed to provide an alternative care for children who have been found to be in need of care and protection as prescribed in Section 150 (1) of the Children`s Act no 38 of 2005. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges faced by statutory social workers in rendering foster care services to undocumented children. The study was qualitative led by exploratory, descriptive, and contextual designs. The sample was drawn using a non-probability sampling technique. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule which was facilitated by an in-depth interview. The target population for the study was all the statutory social workers who were employed at Ekurhuleni Region, Gauteng Department of Social Development. The target population included all statutory social workers who were currently rendering or had previously rendered foster care services to undocumented children. The sample of the study was the statutory social workers who had a minimum of two years’ working experiences in rendering foster care services to undocumented children and working for the Ekurhuleni Region, Gauteng Department of Social Development. For data analysis, the researcher followed Tesch’s eight steps. To ensure that data is verified trustworthiness, credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability were used as described by Lincoln and Guba. Ethical considerations were adhered to, in order to prevent any form of harm on the well-being of the participants. The findings of the study revealed that statutory social workers through statutory services should be able to link foster children with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. In addition, the findings further revealed that statutory social workers should also be able to link foster children and their foster parents to SASSA. Furthermore, the findings of the study confirmed that there are current services that are sought by the foster parents or caregivers of the undocumented children. Finally, the study established that there are challenges experienced by statutory social workers in rendering foster care services to undocumented children.