Exploring resilience skills and strategies of social workers : a qualitative study within the Department of Social Development, Johannesburg

Abstract

Social Work is a profession that is fulfilling yet emotionally demanding. As such, the ongoing commitment to self-care by exploring resilience skills and strategies for social workers are essential to maintain a healthy professional quality of life. Limited research EXPLORING RESILIENCE SKILLS AND STRATEGIES OF SOCIAL WORKERS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY WITHINT HE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, JOHANNESBURG has been undertaken so far. Using a qualitative research approach, this study explored the resilience skills and strategies of social workers employed at the Department of Social Development, working in the City of Johannesburg. A phenomenological research design supported by exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research designs were applied. For data collection, semi-structured interviews using an interview guide with open-ended questions were conducted with a sample of participating social workers. The sample was constituted by means of the purposive sampling technique. Ethical considerations maintained during the study included informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality, information management and beneficence. Data were analysed using the eight steps of Tesch (in Creswell & Poth, 2018) and data verification was done according to the model of Guba and Lincoln (in Lietz & Zayas, 2010:191). Based on the research findings it is evident that resilience skills and strategies are essential to social worker in order to cope with both their work life and personal life. Social workers face various challenges in the line of their work ranging from lack of resources, high caseloads, lack of support by managers, client-related challenges, etc. The significance of social workers understanding the word resilience is imperative, so that they can be able to identify their resilience skills and strategies that help them to cope with challenges. The research findings included the suggestions proffered by the research participants on how their employer can enhance their resilience skills and strategies. In addition, recommendations are provided which are directed towards social work practice, department, social workers, and future researcher. This study will assist social workers to understand the skills and strategies that underpin resilience on them. It will also assist the Department of Social Development and other public sectors to develop support programmes to retain social workers for the profession.