Browsing by Author "Bambeni, Ntobeko"

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    The role of social workers in facilitating financial capabilities development of vulnerable households
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Bambeni, Ntobeko; Engelbrecht, Lambert Karel; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Financial capability is one of the important strategies for poverty alleviation, and the social work profession plays a significant role in interventions that are aimed at alleviating poverty. However, such role has not been adequately explored, especially in the South African context. This is despite social workers’ contribution to the facilitation of financial capabilities development during their daily interaction with service users. The objectives of this study were to provide an overview of the socio-economic context of households in South Africa, to describe and analyse poverty alleviation interventions in South Africa, to analyse theories of the facilitation of vulnerable households’ financial capabilities within a social development perspective, to empirically investigate the role of social workers in facilitating the financial capabilities development of vulnerable households and to present conclusions and offer recommendations to the Department of Social Development, the non-profit social welfare sector and the South African Council for Social Service Professions in terms of the findings of the study. A qualitative study was conducted utilising semi-structured interviews with 35 social work professionals (20 social workers, 10 supervisors and 5 social work policy managers) in order to gain in-depth understanding of the role of social workers in facilitating financial capabilities development. The data and empirical findings were analysed in line with themes as identified in the interview schedule, namely conceptual understanding of financial vulnerability, causes of financial vulnerability, sources of referral for cases of financial vulnerability, interventions of social workers, success and effectiveness of social workers’ interventions, challenges faced by social workers when facilitating financial capabilities development, relevance of social workers in facilitating financial capabilities development and capacitation of social workers. Subthemes and categories were identified in accordance with the narratives of the participants from the empirical data.The conclusions of the study were based on the findings in relation to the eight themes. Some of the findings indicated that the social workers provided interventions in the facilitation of financial capabilities through their roles of educator, advocate, communicator, enabler and negotiator. The findings also revealed that some of the social v workers’ interventions were successful and effective in bringing about the desired financial behaviour, and that this became possible through the cooperation of service users and relevant stakeholders. Despite the success and effectiveness of the interventions, the findings showed that social workers were also faced with challenges when facilitating financial capabilities. These challenges included lack of cooperation from non-voluntary service users and lack of appropriate skills and knowledge among social workers. The findings indicated the relevance of the social work profession in the facilitation of financial capabilities development due to the correlation between financial and psychosocial vulnerability. Furthermore, the study highlights the need for the capacitation of social workers in financial management and financial capabilities development. Based on the research findings, some of the recommendations include the capacitation of social workers through the provision of in-service training on financial management and financial capability and the inclusion of financial capabilities development in the social work curriculum. The key recommendation of this study is that the development of a curriculum for social work students and practitioners alike on the facilitation of financial capabilities development (financial social work) is absolutely vital in the context of South Africa’s social development approach towards social work service delivery.