The perception of the professional self of social workers in private practice

Social workers in private practice === Social work in South Africa appears to have low status and a negative ”welfare” image. The general public seems to regard social workers and the profession with disdain and for the most part is ignorant of what social workers do apart from handing out grants a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Davidson, Colette Evelyn
Other Authors: Schenck, C. J.
Format: Others
Language:en
Published: 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1652
Description
Summary:Social workers in private practice === Social work in South Africa appears to have low status and a negative ”welfare” image. The general public seems to regard social workers and the profession with disdain and for the most part is ignorant of what social workers do apart from handing out grants and removing children from their families. This exploratory research focuses on social workers in private practice - how they view their professional selves, the factors that contribute to the development of their professional selves and the factors that hinder or facilitate this development. The impact of public opinion on social workers in private practice is explored and possible solutions to problems experienced by these private practitioners are sought. Modern and postmodern paradigms are summarised as a background to the Rogerian theory, constructivist philosophy and social constructionist theory that underlie this research. The researcher explores the perceptions of each respondent who shares his/her particular reality with the researcher through the meanings he/she attributes to his/her experiences. === Social work === M.A (Social Science (Mental Health))