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1
Lannes, Laurence. "An analysis of health service delivery performance in Rwanda." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 2015. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/3093/.
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Health systems worldwide fail to produce optimal health outcomes, and successive reforms have sought to make them more efficient, more equitable and more responsive. The overarching objective of this thesis is to explore how to motivate healthcare providers in improving performance in service delivery in low income countries. The thesis explores whether financial incentives for healthcare providers raise productivity and how they may affect equity in utilization of healthcare services and responsiveness to patients’ needs. The thesis argues that, as performance-based financing (PBF) focuses on supply side barriers, it may lead to efficiency gains rather than equity improvements. It uses data from a randomized controlled impact evaluation in Rwanda to generate robust evidence on performance-based financing and address a gap in the knowledge on its unintended consequences. Statistical methods are used to analyze four aspects: the impact on health workforce productivity; the impact on health workforce responsiveness; the impact on equity in utilization of basic health services; and, the impact on spatial disparities in the utilization of health services. Findings indicate that performancebased financing has a positive impact on efficiency: it raises health workforce productivity through higher workload and lower absenteeism; and, it encourages healthcare providers to be more responsive which positively impacts the quality of care perceived by patients. Findings also indicate that the impact on equity is uncertain as PBF can deter equity in access for the poorest in the absence of a compensating mechanism; however, PBF is a powerful reform catalyzer and can reduce inequalities between regions and households when combined with appropriate reforms that control for its potential perverse effects. This thesis advocates that strategies aiming to raise healthcare providers’ motivation should be used to raise performance in service delivery in low-income countries with particular attention to their effect on end users.
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Mlcek, Susan Huhana Elaine. "Paucity management models in community welfare service delivery." View thesis, 2008. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/33647.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2008.A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, Social Justice and Social Change Research Centre, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.
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Ihenacho, Emmanuel Chukwudi. "Advancement of Social Service Delivery Through Cross-Sector Partnerships in Nigeria." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6047.
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Nonprofit organizations and the social services they provide have often engaged the attention of organizational scholars and practitioners. There is also a general perception of nonprofits as agents of social development in cases of public service failure. However, with the proliferation of many small nonprofits, their capacity for effective service delivery has been debated. Some have proposed cross-sector organizational partnerships (CSPs) as a means of assuring service effectiveness; however, such initiatives have been limited and not well understood in Nigeria. This study used a qualitative case study approach to focus on a CSP involving a nonprofit vocational training institute and 4 multinational companies in Nigeria. A purposeful sampling method was used, which emphasized participant experience and knowledge relevant to the study. Data were obtained from organizational records and participant interviews from a sample size of 10. An open-system theoretical lens was used as guide to answer the research question about the key elements of CSPs that support social service delivery by nonprofit organizations in Nigeria. Data analysis included coding, categorization, patterning, detailed description, and interpretation of the data. Categorical elements that increased institutional capacity of nonprofits or facilitated partnership management and government policy were found to be the key support to social service delivery. The results clarify links between CSP and social service delivery, and potentially aid synergy of action across sectors, in advancement of policy formulation and social service delivery.
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ABOUSABEA, Emad Mohamed Abd Elrahman. "Optimization algorithms for video service delivery." Phd thesis, Institut National des Télécommunications, 2012. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00762636.
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The aim of this thesis is to provide optimization algorithms for accessing video services either in unmanaged or managed ways. We study recent statistics about unmanaged video services like YouTube and propose suitable optimization techniques that could enhance files accessing and reduce their access costs. Moreover, this cost analysis plays an important role in decision making about video files caching and hosting periods on the servers. Under managed video services called IPTV, we conducted experiments for an open-IPTV collaborative architecture between different operators. This model is analyzed in terms of CAPEX and OPEX costs inside the domestic sphere. Moreover, we introduced a dynamic way for optimizing the Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) for multicast IPTV service. In nomadic access, the static trees could be unable to provide the service in an efficient manner as the utilization of bandwidth increases towards the streaming points (roots of topologies). Finally, we study reliable security measures in video streaming based on hash chain methodology and propose a new algorithm. Then, we conduct comparisons between different ways used in achieving reliability of hash chains based on generic classifications
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Lau, Yit-hung Kenny. "The use of volunteers in community Support Service Delivery : an evaluation of the Community Escort Service /." [Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong], 1991. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13115716.
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Rodriguez, Elsa, and O'Shonda McDowell. "Social Workers' Perception on HIV/AIDS and the Effects on Their Service Delivery." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2014. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/65.
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This study explores the relationship between social workers’ perceptions of the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) /AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) population and the effects on their service delivery. This study used a quantitative online survey with a self-administered questionnaire. Data was collected for 60 social worker participants for this study. Participants were provided a postcard to a link of the questionnaire that surveyed participants’ regarding demographics, general knowledge, knowledge about contracting HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS risk, and service delivery. Implications from the correlation coefficients identify a significant negative relationship between stigma and HIV/AIDS knowledge, suggesting that higher levels of stigma were present based on lower levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge. This study found that social workers were comfortable with PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) and that social workers did not have strong levels of stigma towards PLWHA. A significant negative relationship between stigma and service delivery was found indicating that service delivery decreases based on the levels of stigma on behalf of the social worker. The findings of this study suggest further research and examination of social workers’ perception of PLWHA due to underrepresentation of social workers perceived stigma. The study also suggests that social workers need to increase their knowledge about PLWHA and the need for additional cultural competency trainings.
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Priyadarshee, Anurag. "Microfinance, social protection and poverty : challenges and opportunities for service delivery in India." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2010. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/microfinance-social-protection-and-poverty-challenges-and-opportunities-for-service-delivery-in-india(5b0aba98-73c4-4c5d-801b-7d471a4fae7b).html.
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Poverty is an extremely significant issue for Indian society with some estimates suggesting that up to 75% of the Indian population may be poor and deprived of basic necessities to sustain a normally healthy life. Microfinance and social protection are considered as important micro-level strategies to reduce poverty. Literature reveals that both strategies suffer from significant service delivery constraints causing exclusion of a large majority of poor households from access to microfinance, and inclusion and exclusion errors and elite capture of social protection programmes. This research explored whether outreach of microfinance and impact of social protection may be enhanced if microfinance products are built on the provisions of social protection for the poor households, and services of microfinance and social protection are synergistically delivered leveraging on the strengths of each other. The research further explored if it is feasible to employ a State institution, India Post, towards such synergistic service delivery. In order to further these research objectives, financial needs of poor households were estimated, and structures and mechanisms causing the exclusion of the poor from microfinance were investigated, by drawing empirical data from three Indian states. States were sampled while acknowledging that the poor are largely excluded from microfinance in two states of UP and Gujarat, and are almost totally included in the state of AP. This provided me with an opportunity to identify structures and mechanisms excluding the poor from microfinance provisions in UP and Gujarat, and contrast it with the situation in AP to further refine and enrich our understanding. Philosophical basis for design and methodology for this research is provided by critical realism, according to which the goal of social research is to understand the world in order to change it for better. The research is primarily based on the data collected through qualitative research methods as such methods are more suited than quantitative methods to critical realistic intensive studies, attempting to uncover underlying structures and mechanisms causing a social phenomenon. Research findings suggest that the financial needs of poor households in UP and Gujarat either remain unmet, or are met through informal mechanisms which are costly and exploitative. Poor are also not able to entirely access their entitled benefits from social protection programmes; as such programmes generate their own financial needs, which remain largely unmet. It was observed that social protection programmes have a favourable political environment in India and are being increasingly employed as a means to fight poverty. Such programmes therefore constitute an important aspect of the financial environment of the poor. Microfinance programme in AP reaches the poor partly because it is also meeting the financial needs generated by the provisions of social protection and thus the poor households find it useful. Poor also become attractive clients for microfinance due to the assured benefits they receive from the social protection programmes. Thus it addresses both demand and supply side constraints which keep a majority of the poor out of the ambit of microfinance in UP and Gujarat. Such social protection-linked service delivery of microfinance was further observed to be enhancing the impact of social protection as well as of microfinance. It is further argued that India Post is suitably located to deliver such social protection-linked microfinance services due to its close proximity to the rural population, and its personnel being known to and trusted by the local communities. India Post network also has a long and rich experience of delivering financial services. Being a government department, it is in a better position than similarly placed agencies such as banks and NGOs, to coordinate with other government departments offering social protection. Moreover, it has a valuable information-capital on the households that can be leveraged to efficiently identify the prospective recipients of the social protection programmes.
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Mohd, Tobi Siti Uzairiah. "Social enterprise applications in an urban facilities management setting : a service delivery model." Thesis, University of Salford, 2011. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/26824/.
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This research aims to contribute to the area of new alignment in Facilities Management (FM). By taking urban FM as the focus of the research, this research highlights how FM is looking at a new way to deliver services to the community, which involves the management of public facilities, infrastructure and its associated services. This new alignment in FM gives new ideas to many researchers by using the urban FM concept to explore many possibilities and putting it in a proper place to improve the current services related to FM. The concept of urban FM moves away from the classical view of the 'traditional service provider' approach that involves the private sector such as in privatisation, outsourcing, or even joint venture approaches. This study tries to look beyond that by looking at the possibilities for having a flexible platform that could involve public agencies or the private sector, or both together, as a new way of delivering services to the public and the community. Therefore, it is important to understand the concept of urban FM and its underlying philosophy in order to realise the inter-relationships with the social enterprise principle, which could possibly offer a new approach to improve the current service delivery. In particular, this thesis outlines the enablers for a new service delivery model which meets the needs of social enterprise applications in an urban FM setting, for the purpose of managing community facilities operations. The research has thoroughly investigated the activities related to urban FM around the world including the UK, and the same goes for the social enterprise practices. It was done by looking at different perspectives to reveal the enablers of the service delivery model so that it can be used extensively. Having this in place helped the researcher to develop a strong base in identifying the initial enablers before particularly seeking the enablers for a Malaysian setting. Looking at the main themes; urban FM and social enterprise with the aim of building a theory, a thorough review of the literature provided a strong basis before looking into current practices. Case studies were conducted at several local councils in Malaysia to gain a better understanding of the contextual factors in seeking the applications of the new service delivery model. Although it was a new approach to apply this model for Malaysian applications, having expert views on this to validate the findings helped to explain the findings in an appropriate way. The contribution to knowledge in the field may be viewed in terms of a critical examination about the urban FM concept and its relationship with social enterprise principles, as well as demonstrating its potential success within an urban FM setting. This study also adds to the current empirical evidence being studied, particularly for the Malaysian context. Derived from that, this uncovered a flexible model for delivering services in managing community facilities operations. This suggested a 'Ridley-Duff model, Type B' of a social enterprise organisational form as a suitable company or agency, with combining the government and business aspect which suits an urban FM setting in this context of study. Moreover, realising the benefits from the 'flexible model' provides added value to the contribution to the knowledge in this area, which also can be taken for further research in other FM areas.
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Ifie, Kemefasu. "An investigation of the antecedents of service delivery and organisational performance : a service culture perspective." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2010. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/6705.
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Service quality has been shown to be critical for the success of service organisations. However, the quality of service delivered by an organisation is dependent on the behaviours of organisational members. Therefore, understanding the various processes that foster desirable service behaviour is important. While there have been many studies which deal with antecedents of service delivery, research adopting a cultural perspective and focusing on elements such as shared values and norms have been somewhat sparse. This is quite surprising given the amount of reference to the importance of a service culture. Recently, there have been calls for research into the cultural determinants of service quality and in particular service culture. This study answers the call by testing a multi-layer model of service culture and performance. The key objectives of the study relate to understanding how service culture leads to both customer-based and financial performance, as well as investigating the process of culture transmission from managers to employees. On the basis of data collected from management and employees, the study assesses service culture at the management and the employee levels, focusing simultaneously on assumptions, value, norms and behaviours. Two routes for culture transmission: the social contagion and behavioural routes are hypothesised and tested. The key findings are that shared service norms are the key impact point of culture transmission from management to employees as well as the key determinant of employee service delivery behaviour. The findings also show that proximity among managers and employees is crucial in the diffusion of service culture and hence in the leadership influencing process. Based on the findings, managerial implications for managing service employees are discussed as well as limitations and suggestions for future research.
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Khanyile, Nomusa Hlengiwe Patience. "Implementation of a developmental approach to social welfare service delivery at Nkandla in Kwazulu–Natal." Thesis, University of Zululand, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10530/1400.
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A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Community Work) in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2014The study focused on the implementation of a developmental approach to social welfare service delivery at Nkandla. It intended to establish whether or not existing service providers implement a developmental approach to community development initiatives with aim of developing and empowering individuals. It further looked at the extent to which local communities participate or do not participate in public affairs. The findings revealed that, the majority of people view the government departments’ system of governance as unresponsive to the societal needs. Lack of effective communication mechanisms between the officials and the communities appears to be the main factor. Communities are hardly consulted for planned initiatives as a result projects are just implemented not really looking at the felt needs. People at the grassroots level do not have knowledge on how government structures function. This makes it difficult for them to have meaningful and effective means of participation. All the undesirable effects outlined above, provide a sound and compelling basis for the strictly implementation of the developmental approach or the available policies for the benefit of the community at large. Lastly on the basis of this study, the critical recommendation was a need to change the mindset of government departments’ officials in order to involve communities more seriously.
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Camargo, Mayra E., and Rocio Silva. "THE EFFECTS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION STATUS ON FAMILY REUNIFICATION AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN CHILD WELFARE SERVICES." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/546.
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Latino immigrants have a strong presence in Southern, California. Although the Latino population can be attributed with possessing significant strengths and resiliency, their unique barriers as to legal status, language, and culture, have led to the researchers’ developing an interest on how undocumented immigrant status affects family reunification and service delivery within the child welfare system. The following research study focuses on evaluating how undocumented immigration status affects family reunification and service delivery in child welfare. It seeks to answer how current case work practice addresses the needs of undocumented Latino immigrant families that become involved within the child welfare system and how their undocumented immigration legal status impacts the reunification process and the receipt of services within the community. For the purpose of this study, an urban Southern California child welfare agency servicing a large population of immigrant Latinos was utilized. Using the constructivist paradigm, researchers interviewed ten children’s social service workers that possessed a mixture of knowledge, experience, and insight as to this population.
The study found that undocumented Latino immigrants faced barriers related to their poor acculturation, that affected their family reunification. For instance, not understanding the English language, not understanding child abuse laws, limited access to culturally appropriate services, and social workers’ limited knowledge of working with undocumented Latino immigrant clients were barriers faced by this population. The findings in this study can be utilized by the child welfare agency to improve cultural awareness trainings for child welfare workers, work towards increasing culturally sensitive service availability, and advance policy.
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Ponder-Wright, Melanie L. "An exploratory study: the impact of the trafficking victims protection act on service delivery." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 2007. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/2683.
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This study explored the impact of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) on human service delivery. This study examines the effectiveness of TVPA, established in 2000 to halt human trafficking through law enforcement, prevention, and aid to victims. Through a review of the literature, this study examines how globalization has influenced human trafficking. The methodology for the study included interviews with social providers who provide services to victims of human trafficking living in the metropolitan area. Demographic and service data are obtained from the 2000 Trafficking Victim Protection Survey. The outcome measure identified gaps in services based on the availability of service to victims in the local area. The social systems theory constituted the conceptual framework for this study. The researcher found a need for increased and integrated services to victims of human trafficking. The implications of these findings for social work practice include establishing services and better interventions strategies for victims.
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McNicholl, Duncan Ryan. "Characteristics of stakeholder networks supporting institutional development in rural water service delivery." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2017. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/270358.
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Social network analysis was used in combination with qualitative methods to identify characteristics of stakeholder networks that supported cases of institutional development in rural water sectors in Ghana, Malawi, India, Tajikistan, and Bolivia. Institutions studied included local governments, a national government institution, and community operator committees managing water treatment facilities. Interviews with 162 participants in these countries used a facilitated network drawing exercise to capture data on stakeholder relationships and perceptions of factors supporting institutional development. Quantitative analysis of these networks and qualitative analysis of perceived factors identified three network characteristics as supporting institutional development for rural water supply in multiple countries and types of institutions. The three characteristics are: information and skill ties between an institution and stakeholders at lower levels of sector hierarchy; information and skill ties between an institution and stakeholders at higher levels of sector hierarchy; and coordination between stakeholders at higher levels of sector hierarchy that strongly engage an institution. These three characteristics can be observed from a network perspective, and qualitative descriptions of these interactions can improve understanding of the nuance and benefit of particular network ties. Social network analysis on its own cannot predict whether an institution will develop if these network characteristics exist, but it can be used to identify where network ties are absent or weakly developed. Methods and findings from this research enable a rigorous analysis of complex stakeholder interactions in rural water sectors to identify where particular relationships might be strengthened, and strengthening the environments that support institutional development has the potential to lead to the stronger institutions that are necessary for sustainable rural water service delivery.
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Sikhwivhilu, Avhasei Phyllis. "The perceived effects of foreign migration on service delivery in Musina Local Municipality." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/2182.
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Lo, Hong-ping Peter. "An exploratory study of the ecological factors affecting the effective delivery of school social work service /." [Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong], 1992. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13417745.
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Harris, Winston J. "Experiences of social vulnerability in indigent households related to water service delivery in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2012. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_1664_1381924107.
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The extent of a community experiencing social vulnerability depends on the community&rsquo
s ability to access resources that may contribute to coping mechanisms (either within the household or provided externally by a responsible authority) that decrease the impacts and effects of a disaster. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to identify the existence of social and institutional mechanisms that aim to reduce experiences of water inaccessibility and the causes of social vulnerability, and increase coping mechanisms within Kayamandi. Kayamandi is a low income residential community on the north-westerly periphery of the greater Stellenbosch town in the Western Cape. The research attained
responses through questionnaires and surveys from residents, community organisations and responsible personnel. These surveys allowed the researcher to produce raw attribute data for each household that assisted in spatially representing vulnerable households and informing the five priority areas of the Hyogo Framework for Action. Contributing to this method of attaining information, secondary geographic data collection was obtained through the Stellenbosch Local Municipality, the National Geospatial Information Directorate and the National Demarcation Board. The findings of this thesis established that household and public water infrastructure contribute to the risk of experiencing social vulnerability that affects economic standings and quality of health within the community. Contributing to this and due to Kayamandi&rsquo
s politically sensitive and historically fractioned community, social cohesion has also been noted as an area of vulnerability. Although these vulnerabilities are experienced, residents are able to implement technical, social and municipal reliant coping mechanisms. However, although efforts from Stellenbosch Local Municipality do respond to most of the key indicators within the Hyogo Framework for Action, the study found no concrete efforts within the Stellenbosch Local Municipality that illustrate integrated mechanisms to reduce the impacts of disasters and compound effects.
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Flette, Elsie L. "The design and delivery of a program for management training in Aboriginal social service organizations." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1995. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/mq23303.pdf.
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Dixon, Decia Nicole. "Mental health service delivery systems and perceived qualifications of mental health service providers in school settings." [Tampa, Fla] : University of South Florida, 2009. http://purl.fcla.edu/usf/dc/et/SFE0002991.
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Bryan, Tara Kolar. ""Exploring the Dimensions of Organizational Capacity for Local Social Service Delivery Organizations Using a Multi-Method Approach"." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/30162.
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Organizational capacity is a concept that has garnered increased attention from the public and nonprofit management literature in recent years. Capacity, broadly defined as the ability of an organization to fulfill its goals, has been of particular focus of scholars interested in understanding the variables that impact organizational performance. Despite the increased focus on organizational capacity in the literature, the concept remains vague. Given the fuzziness of the concept of capacity, there is much opportunity to contribute to the fieldâ s knowledge and measurement of the concept. This dissertation adds depth to the capacity literature in public and nonprofit management by identifying, describing and measuring the different dimensions of capacity relevant to local social service delivery organizations. Utilizing a two-phase sequential mixed method design including both interview and survey data, the findings suggest that organizational capacity consists of a number organizational resources and capabilities that impact the functioning of the internal organization as well as its relationships with other relevant organizations and external stakeholders. In particular, six dimensions of capacity were identified: human resource, financial resource, information technology, knowledge, stakeholder commitment, and collaborative. The survey results indicate that the six dimensions are connected to the theoretical construct of organizational capacity. However, results from the discriminant validity tests of the six subscales are mixed. This finding implies that these dimensions represent broad constructs that impact the other dimensions directly. This finding also highlights the challenge of defining and measuring discreetly the specific dimensions of capacity. Future research should examine these discrepancies in order to further disentangle capacity as a theoretical construct.Ph. D.
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Mpinda, Siyavuya. "Grassroots participation in policy processes and service delivery: A case study of the Western Cape provincial department of social services." University of the Western Cape, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/7864.
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Masters in Public Administration - MPAGrassroots participation in the domain of public policy is assuming global significance particularly in the fields of welfare and development. Revived by the United Nations' resolution in the 1970s, many governments both in developed and underdeveloped countries have endorsed the grassroots participation ideals as contained in the United Nations' policy statements and resolutions. Accordingly, many governments have declared their support for grassroots participation and in number of cases, grassroots participation has featured conspicuously in their national development plans. _. A late arrival on the grassroots participation discourse, grassroots participation and civil society's involvement have also featured predominantly in the national development plans of the new South African government. The new democratically elected government pronounced in various policy documents and on public platforms, a commitment towards grassroots participation. Although many governments have employed the rhetoric of grassroots participation in their national·. development plans, there is however an accumulative literature which points to the fact that grassroots participation endeavors have· often been undertaken in a top-down fashion, with marginalized groups of communities often excluded. The central objective of this study has therefore been a critical evaluation of the manner in which the Western Cape Provincial Department of Social Services has implemented its grassroots approach in the context of policy. formulation and implementation and service delivery. An evaluation of the Department's grassroots approach has been attempted by assessing the grassroots structures, which the Department has established as vehicles for grassroots participation in its policy processes and service delivery. To this end, of Fourteen District Committees established by the Department throughout the Western Cape province, four have been evaluated. Through reviewing literature Oh grassroots participation, the project's findings highlighted a discrepancy between the Department's prevailing rhetoric of grassroots participation and the reality of the grassroots participation as operationalized through these committees. The findings indicated that the grassroots participation through these committees is far from the ideal of authentic grassroots participation as discussed in Chapter Two, as it is replete with elements of unrepresentativeness of the marginalized groups, co-option, political manipulation, centralized and top-down decision-making styles. The study also attempted to provide recommendations tailored to bring the Department's grassroots participatory process closer to the ideals of authentic
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Mosoma, Zodwa. "The formulation of the Manual on Family Preservation Services in South Africa and the experiences of social workers regarding the formulation and implementation thereof." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/46178.
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Worldwide, changes in the family have become more evident. Many of the traditional roles that families used to play are now performed by other institutions, such as schools, churches, a variety of welfare agencies and non-governmental organizations. Families in South Africa are no exception, as many South African families are faced with challenges that have a negative impact on their ability to sustain themselves and their members.
The previous Minister of Social Development, Doctor Zola Skweyiya, rightly acknowledged that, in order to address the needs of vulnerable groups in our communities effectively, we need a particular focus on the role of the family, both as a developmental and as a supporting institution. In responding to these challenges, the Department of Social Development developed a new Manual on Family Preservation Services (Department of Social Development, 2008b), with the aim of training social service professionals to deliver family preservation services. In order for the programme envisaged by the developers of the Manual to be implemented efficiently, the Norms and Standards Policy on Developmental Social Welfare Services (Department of Social Development, 2007a:52-57) mandates the roll-out of the training and education by all provinces. Thus all social service professionals are mandated to implement family preservation services as stipulated by the Norms and Standards Policy on Developmental Social Welfare Services (Department of Social Development, 2007a) and the Draft National Family Policy (Department of Social Development, 2008a).
In her role as one of the trainers on family preservation services who was also responsible for monitoring and evaluating these services in the provinces, the researcher observed the inadequacy and inconsistency of the concept of family preservation services in reporting among social service professionals despite the training and capacity-building carried out by the Department of Social Development.
The researcher therefore investigated, first, whether the formulation of the Manual on Family Preservation Services lacks clarity relating to the theoretical framework and operational definition of key concepts which are supposed to assist social service professionals in rendering effective family preservation services. Second, she interviewed 20 social workers regarding their experiences on the formulation and implementation of the Manual. This is a small sample in terms of representing social workers in the country. In total, 37 social workers were originally interviewed, but, because it transpired that they had never attended any training on the Manual for Family Preservation Services, their data were excluded from the empirical study, even though they are implementing these services. The researcher was therefore interested in analysing the formulation of the Manual on Family Preservation Services and also analysed the experiences of social workers regarding the formulation and implementation of the Manual, with the aim of identifying gaps and improving service delivery to families.
The researcher reviewed prior literature on systems theory, which is fundamental in addressing family dynamics, the family life cycle and its stages. She also considered literature on family preservation services on four levels of service delivery, the stages of the policy cycle and the overview of the Draft National Family Policy, as well as the Manual of Family Preservation Services. In this study, the researcher adopted an explanatory design, which is a form of mixed methods research. The overall purpose of an explanatory design is to gather qualitative data that help to explain or build upon initial quantitative results from the first phase of the study. In order to collect quantitative data, the researcher used a checklist for a content analysis of the formulation of the Manual on Family Preservation Services. She then conducted semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data about social workers’ experiences regarding the formulation and implementation of the Manual on Family Preservation Services in eight provinces.
The researcher did a pilot test of the semi-structured interview schedule, which helped her to refine two questions that were understood differently by the two social workers who participated in the pilot test. After latent coding, the quantitative data were analysed manually, while the qualitative data were coded according to Creswell’s model for qualitative data analysis.
The quantitative empirical results revealed some limitations in the formulation of the Manual on Family Preservation Services. Such limitations include an unclear definition of the concept of family preservation services, the omission of objectives from the Manual, confusion with regard to the theoretical frameworks applied, a lack of clarity on the role of volunteers, the process of providing training and capacity-building to social service professionals, monitoring and evaluation plan. These findings were confirmed by the social workers who were interviewed. They exposed the confusion that exists on the definition of family preservation services, the objectives, the theoretical frameworks, the role of volunteers, high case-loads, which they linked to a shortage of social workers and the fact that resources, training and capacity-building on family preservation services are not prioritized.
It was therefore recommended that the issues highlighted above be addressed and be included in a revised Manual, and that relevant material also be provided to social service professionals who need to implement family preservation services.Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2015.
tm2015
Social Work and Criminology
DPhil
Unrestricted
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Mseme, Laura. "Super sizing service delivery with a side order of innovation building a social franchising governance model to accelerate local government service delivery for ECD provisioning in partnerships beyond PPP's." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/80326.
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Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a rising groundswell of citizens globally questioning the equity, integrity and sustainability of the philosophies, values and institutions inherited from the 20th century. The continuum of civil disobedience has increased over time; sit ins, community unrest, uprisings and finally revolutions have marked this first decade of this new age. People are voicing their disillusionment with increased frequently, impatience and violence globally calling for the creation of a world which, in Freire’s words, is “menos feio, menos malvado, menos desumano [less ugly, less cruel, less inhumane] (Mayo, 2003:42). President Jacob Zuma at the 14th Nedlac Annual Summit in September 2009 called for a “stronger social dialogue underpinned by a sense of cooperation, and responsibility will also be important if we are to avoid a situation where the recovery ends up being business as usual. We need to find new way of doing things” (Zuma, 2009a:1). Social Franchising is a relatively new concept in the service delivery discourse having recently emerged as a sub-sector of social enterprise. Social franchising is a derivative of the long established commercial franchise model with a dual purpose of generating sustainable economic returns and advancing social good by encouraging profit making not profit taking (Mseme, 2010a:1). Social franchising has been mainly operating in the NGO sector, on the Indian sub continent, accommodated in larger private or public health institution, providing women related health services into poor communities. Recent research undertaken by Mseme (2010a) has shown social franchising should be considered as a strategic option in the delivery of public service to improve citizens development, promoting new venture creation and strengthen the developmental state at local level This study seeks to make a contribution to the limited local government body of knowledge by developing an appropriate social franchising governance model. This model aims to accelerate accessible and sustainable public community development services generally and early childhood development in particular at local level by delivering on the two primary national priorities of poverty alleviation and quality education provisioning. This study merges a number of key issues that are substantive in determining the future well being of South Africa and all of her citizens namely; affordable, universal and comprehensive service delivery, equitable quality education and cognitive development of young children and increased economic participation and wealth generation especially in marginalised and vulnerable communities within the context of the developmental state. This study is guided by a postmodernist philosophy and stems from a transformative and emancipatory approach applying Paulo Freire’s pedagogy and politics of hope that is not meant to consolidate “what is” but is driven by a vision of “what should and can be” (Mayo, 2003:42).This research has applied both empirical and non – empirical design with a mixed qualitative and quantitative component. The areas of non –empirical study were determined by the theoretical framework which focuses on developmental state, developmental local government, public service management, partnership service delivery mechanisms, early childhood development and small enterprise development. The research findings arising out of the empirical ECD needs assessment survey and case study were further explored and tested in semi structured interviews with political decision makers, policy makers, policy drafters and policy experts. This study has designed a social franchise governance model for the delivery of ECD at local government level. Its implementation however is premised on a shift of public administration mindset from bureaucracy to innovation, a shift of public policy from government as sole provide to facilitator of services, a shift from survival partnerships to delivery partnerships by desire and a change of citizens attitude from dependency to self development.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wereldwyd bevraagteken inwoners toenemend die billikheid, integriteit and volhoubaarheid van filosofiee, waardes en wette vanuit die 20ste eeu. Wetteloosheid het toegeneem oor ‘n tydperk. Opstand en eintlik revolusies is kenmerkend in die eerste dekade van die nuwe era. Mense spreek hulle ontnugtering toenemend op ‘n gereelde basis uit, wat uiteindelik aanleiding gee tot ongeduld en geweld. Wereldwyd is mense op soek na ‘n samelewing wat soos Freire dit beskryf “menos feio, menos malvado, menos desumano (minder haatlik en onmenslik) (Mayo, 2003:42). Tydens die 14de NEDLAC Jaarlikse Konferensie gedurende September 2009 het President Jacob Zuma die balangrikheid van sterker sosiale dialoog gegrond op samewerking en verantwoordlikheid beklemtoon ten einde ‘n situasie van besigheid soos gewoonlik te voorkom. Hy het mense aangemoedig om vorendag te kom met nuwe manier om dinge te doen.(Zuma, 2009a:1) Sosiale agentskap is ‘n relatiewe nuwe konsep in die lewering van dienste wat ontstaan het vanuit die sub-sektor sosiale ondernemings. Sosiale agentskap het voortgespruit vanuit die kommersiele agentskaps model met ‘n tweeledige doel naamlik die skepping van volhoubare ekonomiese inkomste en die bevordering van sosiale goedere deur die aanmoediging van die maak van winste en nie die neem van winste nie (Mseme, 2010a:1) . Sosiale agentskappe het primer voorgekom in nie-regerings organisasies, groot privaat of publieke gesondheids instansies en die verskaffing van gesondheids dienste aan vroue in die armer gemeenskappe. Huidige navorsing deur Mseme (2010a) bewys dat sosiale agentskappe oorweeg moet word as ‘n strategiese opsie in die lewering van openbare dienste om die onwikkeling van inwoners te verbeter, om die skepping van nuwe projekte te bevorder sowel as die versterking van die ontwikkelende staat op plaaslike regeringsvlak. Deur die ontwikkeling van ‘n toepaslike sosiale agentskaps bestuurs model beoog die studie om ‘n bydrae te maak tot die beperkte beskikbare inligting oor plaaslike regering. Die model streef daarna om toeganklike volhoubare openbare gemeenskaps onwikkelende dienste in die algemeen te lewer sowel as spesifiek dienste rondom vroee kinder ontwikkeling op plaaslike regerings vlak. Hierdie oogmerk van die model is gebaseer op die nasionale prioriteite van werkskepping en die voorsiening van kwaliteit onderrig. Die studie kombineer ‘n aantal belangrike sleutel dimensies in die bepaling van die voortbestaan van inwoners van Suid-Afrika, naamlik bekostigbaarheid, universele en omvattende dienslewering, gelyke kwaliteit onderrig, die kognitiewe ontwikkeling van jong kinders, toenemende ekonomies deelname, en die ontwikkeling van rykom spesifiek in marginale kwesbare gemeenskappe binne die konteks van ‘n ontwikkelende staat. Die studie is gebaseer op ‘n post-moderne filisofie and spruit voort vanuit ‘n transformerende en moderne benadering deur die toepassing van Paulo Freire’s opvoedkundige aard sowel as politieke hoop wat nie bedoel is om “die wat is” te konsolideer nie, maar wat voort gedryf word vanuit ‘n visie “wat moet en kan gedoen word” (Mayo, 2003:42). Die nie-empiriese studie is gabaseer op ‘n teoretiese raamwerk wat focus op die ontwikkelende staat, ontwikkelende plaaslike regareings, staatsdiens bestuur, ‘n vennootskap dienslewrings meganisme, vroee kinder ontwikkeling and klein sake ondernemings ontwikkeling. Beide empiriese en nie-empiriese ontwerpe is gebruik met ‘n kombinasie van kwalitatiewe and kwantitatiewe komponent. Die bevindinge vanuit die navorsing spruit voort uit die empiriese vroee kinder ontwikkelings behoefte bepalings studie. ‘n Gevalle studie is ook verder gebruik en getoets deur semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met beleidmakers, en beleids deskundiges. Die studie het ‘n sosiale agentskaps bestuurs model ontwikkel vir die lewering van vroee kinder ontwikkeling op plaaslige regerings vlak. Die implementering van die model is gabaseer op ‘n aantal veranderinge van denkwyses naamlike vanaf publieke administrasie opinie van burokrasie na innovasie, vanaf openbare beleid dat die regering die enigste verskaffer van dienste is na die fasilitering van dienste, vanaf oorlewings vennootskappe na vennootskappe wat gehalte dienste lewer en laaste ‘n verandering van ‘n aghanklikheids houding na self ontwikkeling.
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Sparkman, Terryl F. "A descriptive study of medical social workers' perceptions of HIV/AIDS, older adults and service delivery." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 2001. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/1691.
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This study examines the HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of medical social workers that provide services to older adult populations and the effects that may impact service delivery. It was hypothesized that medical social workers believe that they lack sufficient knowledge to provide social work services to older adults with HIV/ AIDS.
The study sample consists of medical social workers who work with older adult patients and residents at a southeast Atlanta hospital and nursing home. The study reported the findings of a 23-item questionnaire that measured knowledge of HIV/AIDS older adult related issues, professional preparation and attitudes regarding sexuality and older adults. A descriptive approach was used to analyze the data and report significant findings.
Findings showed that social workers were knowledgeable, yet lacked knowledge in critical areas. Overall social workers believed that they were not prepared to provide effective service delivery. This research is of importance because in order to enhance the quality of life for at risk older adults, social workers need to evaluate their level of knowledge, their attitudes and become aware of any gaps in knowledge or biases that may impede effective service delivery.
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Chichava, Marina. "Journeys to health : middle-class Mozambican women assess healthcare service delivery in Mozambique and South Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10193.
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My thesis explores how Mozambican middle-class women perceive official local healthcare services in both their public and private dimensions, within their country, and why they sometimes travel abroad to South Africa in search of healthcare across a range of gynaecological services, ranging from basic procedures to more complex requirements. I trace the stories of fifteen women to convey their experiences and opinions of the Mozambican health system. I show the women negotiating their way through barriers and limitations within this system, in ways that point out its inadequacies and inefficiency. I investigate how searching for 'quality' healthcare, often abroad, is intertwined with middle-class women's crafting of identities that aspire to a certain demonstration of 'modernity' in which social status is claimed.
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Fungurai, Phillip Nyasha. "An interrogation of the adequacy of New Public Management in effective social service delivery Case of Mutare City Council, Zimbabwe." University of Western Cape, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/7735.
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Magister Administrationis - MAdminLocal authorities, if well managed, are a key public sector institution indispensable for effective and efficient service delivery which in turn is critical towards meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local level. In public sector administration since the 1990s, the Bretton Woods Institutions and allies encourage developing countries to adopt New Public Management (NPM) to improve public sector performance, including more effective service delivery. This thesis interrogates the adequacy of New Public Management (NPM) in service delivery using the Mutare City Council in Zimbabwe as a case analysis. The thesis answers the fundamental question of why internationally recommended NPM falls short in promoting good governance and effective service delivery in Zimbabwe in general, and the city of Mutare in specific. At the heart of this thesis is the crisis of service delivery in Mutare, and the practical failure of NPM as an antidote, against the background of a complex socio-political context and economic depression. This thesis is informed by the theory of governance, as augmented – and also contradicted – by NPM as implemented by Mutare City Council. To gather empirical data, this research employed the qualitative research methodology. A qualitative methodology entailed in-depth semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The researcher interviewed the mayor and ten councilors from Mutare City Council, two community opinion leaders, two public administration scholars, and leaders of three residents’ associations and two other civil society groups. The researcher also used participant observation by attending one full council meeting and a council budget consultation meeting organised by Mutare City Council. In essence, it emerged consistently in this research that Mutare City Council is marred by institutional, administrative and operational challenges which impede implementation of NPM. Implementation failures include corruption and meagre political will. There were also problems, however, in applying NPM in the Zimbabwe context, which especially in Mutare led to policy inconsistencies. There was a lack of sufficient monetary and human resources due to the economic crisis plaguing the country, and the council’s institutional capacity shortfalls. There was also an intrinsic disharmony between NPM and local socio-political processes, including the political contestation between the opposition-led local council and the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu PF)-led central government. The result was a fractional, patchy, piecemeal roll-out of NPM. The net effect of NPM’s failure, exacerbated by a dire socio-political and economic crisis has been a municipal service-delivery crisis characterised by irregular refuse collection, poor housing, poor sewer reticulation, erratic health provision, poor roads, acute shortage of street lighting and local traffic lights, acute shortage of burial spaces, acute shortage of recreational spaces, and an informal traders’ crisis. This thesis concludes that implementation of NPM would have to result from much stronger political will, in order to achieve more effective service delivery in Zimbabwe at large and Mutare specifically. There is a need to stimulate political will towards improved implementation of NPM, in its holistic sense, and not as a piecemeal process. This should be accompanied by dislodging the petty version of party politics that have debilitated the running of Mutare City Council. There should be platforms for meaningful citizen engagement and participation in local governance processes. In addition, NPM should be buttressed with a comprehensive policy and legislative framework that adds to its authenticity and legitimacy. There should be adequate financing. All these could reinforce Mutare City Council’s holistic implementation of NPM reforms. Such measures will nurture and inculcate a culture of transparency, accountability, rule of law, and efficiency in service delivery as well as public administration and urban governance at large.
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Ellison, Jeffrey H. "Rural Parents Mental Health Service Delivery Preferences: Overcoming Barriers to Care." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2011. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1334.
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Unique barriers prevent parents in rural areas from seeking mental health services for their children. The implementation of innovative models of service delivery may reduce these barriers' impact on rural parents' treatment seeking.
The purpose of this study was to determine: 1) parents' willingness to use innovative service delivery models; 2) barriers that parents perceive to seeking treatment in each of the 4 service delivery models, and; 3) the relationship between perceived barriers and willingness to seek help in the context of 4 service delivery models.
Surveys were distributed to parents of children attending school in several counties in rural Appalachia.
Results showed that parents perceived different barriers for different service models and that perceived barriers affected willingness differently depending on the model asked about.
These results suggest that the use of innovative models (e.g., telehealth) may be acceptable in rural areas as alternatives to traditional mental health services.
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Wang, Hong. "Changes in parenting for Chinese new immigrant families and the implications for social service delivery systems." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape10/PQDD_0008/MQ41646.pdf.
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Darr, Aamra Rashid. "The social implications of thalassaemia major among Muslims of Pakistani origin : family experience and service delivery." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 1991. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1317782/.
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This thesis is about the experience of Muslim British Pakistani families coping with thalassaemia (a chronic, inherited blood disorder) and the implications for service delivery. Its central concern is to illustrate that simplistic and culturally-biased assumptions are an unsatisfactory base on which to devise health service delivery for minority populations, and that with careful study it is possible to deliver culturally sensitive and appropriate services. The thesis is written in four parts. The first part contains the research methods and the clinical aspects of thalassaemia. It also provides an introduction to the families in the study. The British Pakistani population is considered in the context of migration to Britain, which has created a plural society requiring adaptations to services to meet the diverse health needs of the different ethnic minorities. The second part deals with the socio-economic and cultural background of British Pakistanis in Pakistan: this (is) crucial to an understanding of their present situation. Family dynamics, marriage patterns and decision-making processes are explored, as is the central role of religion and kinship networks in the lives of British Pakistanis. It also examines their settlement process and present living conditions and illustrates how the social structures prevalent in Pakistan have been re-established in England, albeit in a modified form. The third part documents, using case studies, the experiences of British Pakistani families with thalassaemic children. These are analysed to highlight deficiencies in health service delivery and areas where cultural misconceptions exist. These areas require attention to provide an effective genetic counselling service for this population. The final part examines the social and clinical implications of consanguineous marriage. It gives the results of a study showing increased frequency of consanguineous marriage among British Pakistanis than among Pakistanis in Pakistan. It then illustrates how kinship networks within communities practising this marriage pattern provide an opportunity to offer a genetic counselling service in a unique way, by making positive use of the practice. This proposed approach applies not only to thalassaemia but also to other inherited diseases.
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Shafique, Aisha. "Political Competition and Social Organization: Explaining the Effect of Ethnicity on Public Service Delivery in Pakistan." The Ohio State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1384175586.
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Buruga, Bosco Apparatus. "The use of mobile technologies for social media-based service delivery at Muni University Library, Uganda." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/58991.
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This study aimed to understand how Muni University Library can effectively use mobile technologies to deliver social media-based library services. Data was collected from 100 undergraduate students and 4 members of staff of the University Library on the use of mobile and social media technologies for provision of library services and resources using self-administered questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, respectively. Only 88 student questionnaires were returned while all 4 members of staff participated in the face-to-face interviews.
The results show that the majority (96.6 per cent) of the students own mobile devices and social media accounts that are used for both academic and personal purposes. There is convergence in responses among students and staff that mobile and social media technologies are crucial for provision of library services and resources in the 21st Century. They suggest that these technologies be used in the Muni University Library to access subject guides, MOPAC, mobile website, library map, and e-resources, and reference services. Also, the results show that the Muni University Library is already providing services to its users through mobile technologies and social media using WhatsApp, Facebook, and Kindle Fires e-readers.
However, this study identified challenges that hinder the use of mobile and social media technologies, including unreliable internet connectivity, lack of a member of staff of the library responsible for managing technologies, lack of adequate skills among users and library staff required to use social media technologies, and lack of an independent library social media strategy. Discussion of the results and recommendations are presented in this mini-dissertation.Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
Carnegie Corporation of New York
University of Pretoria
Muni University
Information Science
MIT
Unrestricted
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Navarro, Jennifer Y. "SERVICE READINESS AND DELIVERY FOR COMMERCIALLY SEXUALLY EXPLOITED CHILDREN (CSEC): A CASE STUDY." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/908.
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Long dismissed as a third world issue, the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) has been a significant problem across the United States over the past two decades, causing major concerns for child welfare stakeholders. The literature has shown a broad range of adverse consequences associated with CSEC. These include—but are not limited to—malnutrition, severe trauma, physical and sexual assault, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy, and medical neglect. The purpose of the study is to assess the readiness level of a large county in Southern California with regards to the well-being of children with a past or current record of victimization from commercial sexual exploitation. Embracing the Community Readiness Model, this case study aimed to evaluate (a) the county’s level of knowledge about programs and services to address CSEC, (b) the county leadership’s attitude toward addressing CSEC, (c) the county’s attitude toward addressing CSEC, (d) the county’s knowledge about CSEC, and (e) explore the county’s range of resources available to address CSEC. Results indicated that the county’s overall readiness score was 4.1 out of a possible 9. That is, the county had a low readiness level with respect to addressing the challenges associated with CSEC within its boundaries. Implications of the findings for theory, research, policy, and macro social work practice were discussed.
Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), community readiness model
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Kerlin, Janelle Arlene. "The political means and social service ends of decentralization in Poland: The story of Poland's mid-level public administration reform and its effect on social service delivery." Related electronic resource: Current Research at SU : database of SU dissertations, recent titles available full text, 2002. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/syr/main.
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Stapleton, Greta Krahn. "Serving primary caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease : an integrated service delivery model." PDXScholar, 1986. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/3687.
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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of nontreatable dementia, a syndrome which reflects a progressive and global impairment of memory, intellect, and other cognitive abilities. This devastating condition directly touches the lives of as many as 10 million Americans, including not only persons suffering from the disease but their primary caregivers and other family members as well. At present the course of AD cannot be halted or reversed, and no cure is known. The problem, then, is how to most effectively respond to the psychosocial needs of primary caregivers in order to help them provide the best possible care for a loved one with AD.
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Franklin, P. "An evaluation of the role of flexible methods of programme delivery in social work education in widening access to professional qualification." Thesis, Canterbury Christ Church University, 2014. http://create.canterbury.ac.uk/13510/.
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This research evaluates the role of flexible methods of delivering social work education in widening access to professional qualification. It examines: • The personal profiles of applicants on flexible/part-time social work programmes and compares these with those of full-time students • Whether opportunities for flexible study increase the diversity of applicants to pre-registration Masters level programmes • The kinds of flexibility that increase the diversity of applicants to pre-registration social work programmes The research method is informed by reflexivity, incorporating all aspects of knowledge and experience providing depth to interpretation of data. Data on 162 social work students registered on a postgraduate pre-registration programme was collected over four years and examined using a sequential exploratory research design. Data was collected from three main sources: HEI cohort statistics, questionnaires and individual interviews with eight selected students. Findings suggest: Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students enter social work education through social care for career progression in the absence of alternative employment; knowledgeable and experienced practitioners study for qualifications that allow them to continue in their role; opportunity, rather than planning, facilitates access to study; and values promoted within social work education conflict with those experienced in the workplace. Limited diversity was identified within students on the flexible route associated with age, personal situation, disability and distance from the HEI. These students represented two distinct groups, polarised in terms of experience, knowledge and aspirations. Trends and patterns were identified across and within the whole student group: BME students were multiply-disadvantaged, travelling further, earning less, and facing limited opportunity; and numbers of younger, White students were increasing. Findings indicate a need to broaden notions of flexibility in programme structure and delivery. Recommendations include using a modular approach; delivery methods that facilitate local study; and establishing a “whole-career” approach to social work education.
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Chiwarawara, Kenny. "Contestations, connections and negotiations: the role of networks in service delivery protests in Gugulethu, Cape town." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/3886.
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Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS)This study revealed the key role that social, historical, economic and political networks play in initiating and maintaining service delivery protests. While networks help in communicating service delivery problems among protestors and in mobilizing, protests that ensue are a means of communicating anger at the municipal authorities’ actions and or inactions. Using a reference to a hostage situation that occurred, I argued that there is a progression and intensification of protest tactics especially after ‘peaceful and legal’ means of engagement fail. Also, my research findings show that networks used for protest purposes can be used for other purposes. In light of this, I suggested that a better understanding, by protestors, of networks at their disposal and how they can use such networks for other community building projects is needed. Additionally, such an understanding by protestors may prove helpful for protestors to better organize and utilize their network resource and stage more effective but peaceful protests. Municipalities may use this information (networks) to communicate and connect with the communities they serve in a better way. In sum, the study further found that networks are important before the protest, during the protest and after the protest
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Lau, Yit-hung Kenny, and 劉悦鴻. "The use of volunteers in community Support Service Delivery: an evaluation of the Community EscortService." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1991. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31248949.
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Sookraj, Dixon. "Factors related to human service delivery to underserved clients by private sector nonprofit social service organizations : an ecological study of national outpatient substance abuse treatment units /." The Ohio State University, 1995. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487864986609544.
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Khamba, Ntokozo. "Social welfare delivery: a case of government funded NGOs in Worcester." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2006. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_1942_1189598551.
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Social welfare services are essential for development of human capital and eradication of poverty in South Africa generally. Social welfare plays a pivotal role in enabling the impoverished and vulnerable communities and households to lead their lives through provision of care, social relief, stability and human resource development. Non-Governmental Organisations form an integral part of the welfare system through their formal and informal welfare and residential and non-residential welfare services. The role of the NGOs becomes imperative precisely because of their inherent empathy and proximity to the communities they serve. Government itself has been engaged in the process of transformation and the same challenges of transformation, governance, and effectiveness still profound the NGO sector. Notwithstanding the contribution of the NGOs in the welfare system, it is crucial to scrutinise the nature of their work and the rate of transformation to flourish in the democratic dispensation. To enhance the process of transformation in the NGO sector, government passed a plethora of policies and legislative requirements, inter alia, White Paper for Social Welfare 1997, Non-Profit Organisations Act of 1997. The intent of this research therefore, was to establish the significance of transformation and inherent issues of governance, effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery and sustainability of the nature of social welfare services rendered by the NGO sector in the Western Cape, particularly the Worcester district.
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Campbell, Michael. "THE IMPACT OF SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS ON NON-DISABLED PEERS INTENT TO INCLUDE THEIR PEERS WITH DISABILITIES." Doctoral diss., University of Central Florida, 2007. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/3761.
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In much the same way as the racial integration movement, advocates for students with disabilities (SWD) have cultivated an active and vocal lobby seeking to establish and then implement legal mandates to integrate classrooms in the hope that social acceptance would follow. Through federal mandates such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), conceptually initiated in 1975 and revised in 2004 as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) along with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, these students have a voice to cry out for access to the experiences of work, conversation and play with their peers. This study explores the impact that classroom efforts to offer "inclusion" have on their nondisabled peers' intent to include their fellow SWD in their lives as students. Using survey research methods and guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (Aizen, 1985), 593 responses were obtained from a convenience sample of 936 third, fourth and fifth grade students educated in 52 classrooms spread across 6 different schools in two counties (Seminole and Orange) in Central Florida. Survey results were also collected from the students' parents and their teachers and used to add a richer depth to the data analysis. The data was compiled and analyzed using mean comparison tests (T test and One & Two way ANOVA tests) and a multinomial logistic regression equation. SPSS 13.0 was used to compute the impact that independent variables (integration and interaction) had on the dependent variable (intent to include). The results suggest that the integration of SWD had a significant impact on nondisabled peers; yet efforts to promote peer interaction seemed to have a mixed result. Additionally, the students' gender (female), the students' prior exposure to SWD and a positive teacher attitude toward people with disabilities also had a significant impact on the response of students' intent to include SWD. The results of this analysis are presented along with a discussion of these findings in relation to public policy initiatives to promote the social inclusion of community members. Limitations and recommendations for future research are also indicated.Ph.D.
Other
Health and Public Affairs
Public Affairs PhD
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Kalla, Coecky Yasmeen. "The impact of HIV/AIDS on service delivery in Polokwane Municipality as an organisation." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/901.
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Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2011The aim of the study was to explore the impact of HIV/AIDS on service delivery in Polokwane Municipality as an organisation and the mechanisms used to implement the HIV/AIDS policies and programmes. The researcher conducted the study in the city of Polokwane under the Capricorn District Municipality in the Limpopo Province. For this study, information was gathered from both municipal employees and managers in Polokwane municipality. The respondents confirmed that the organisation has on HIV/AIDS policy in place and its key provision serves to create a non-discriminatory working environment. They further acknowledged the fact that HIV/AIDS is a concern to the Polokwane municipal workforce and impacts negatively on service delivery that is the reason that led to the establishment of the EAP office. HIV/AIDS is still perceived as a very sensitive issue and employees are not willing to communicate about their status due to fear of being stigmatised. The Municipality should continue facilitation of educational awareness on employee’s health and wellness, and encourage their employees to utilise the office of the employee assistance programmes
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Horn-Johnson, Tancy Clarissa. "Identifying life challenges of women at a branch campus through life course interviews| Implications for service delivery." Thesis, Capella University, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10125257.
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An increasing number of women are returning to school as nontraditional students to complete their bachelor’s degrees. These women may have specific needs related to life transitions and re-entry into postsecondary education that traditional students do not. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the experiences of women who are nontraditional students, including their everyday supports and challenges. The guiding research question for this study was: Upon identifying the challenges for women at a branch campus, what changes can the university make to better serve the women? Study participants included 12 students currently enrolled in a bachelor’s program in social work. Participants also included four university social work faculty and five campus administrators from the study site. A participatory action research methodology was used to collect data from multiple stakeholders. Interviews with social work faculty and university center and branch campus administrators were conducted. Data were coded using open and axial coding. NVivo 11 was employed to help facilitate the coding of the data for the study in order to assure accuracy in identifying common themes. The two main themes to emerge from this study were Experiences and Challenges. Participants’ experiences included personal and academic. Personal challenges that the women described included abuse, childcare, and health. The two forms of abuse described were substance abuse and domestic abuse, and the health subthemes included personal and family issues. Women’s academic challenges included finances, academic writing, and class schedules. Study results may be used to raise stakeholders’ awareness of students’ needs, explore and change university processes, and develop workshops to assist nontraditional female students with career development and financial literacy.
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Arnold, Fadwa. "Best social audit practices in public service delivery from selected countries: Lessons for the South African local government." University of the Western Cape, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/8095.
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Masters in Public Administration - MPAThis study is an exploration of best social audit practices in public service delivery from selected countries: Lessons for the South African local government. The study is vital in that the end of apartheid ushered in new sets of challenges in the country and one of these was the need for transformation which saw the birth of the 1996 Constitution which introduced Local government in South Africa which consists of the municipalities. Local government then emerged as the sphere of government closest to the people providing basic services. This is consistent with Part B of Schedule 4 of the 1996 Constitution, which mandates municipalities the responsibility for basic services. This is also supported by the White Paper on Local Government of 1998, the Municipal Structures Act, of 1998 and the Systems Act of 2000 which all explain on the need for the municipality to deliver services, yet many residents are not being served leading to service delivery protest to ensure that service are delivered and others turning to social accountability mechanism such as social audits to improve governance and accountability. This study aims to discover knowledge of best social audit practices from selected countries, aims to describe the best social audit practices and methods of selected countries practicing social audits such as Canada, India and Kenya; outline the challenges of social audits from selected countries and discusses the significance of social audit and methods of selected countries. To achieve this goal the study employed a qualitative research approach and collected data from websites, journals, articles and information on local government in South Africa. The study is both descriptive and exploratory and does not intend to provide conclusive evidence but helps us to have a better understanding of the social audit concept. The study found that the social audit concept yielded considerable and positive results in the selected countries and led to an increase in accountability, participation and transparency, led to an improved service delivery and were effective in detecting corruption and irregularities. It also found that there were challenges relating to social audits like the lack of access to reliable information, the intensive nature of the audit process, the threatening of social auditors and the lack of cooperation within the social audit process. This study suggests that the South African local government sector, explores the social audit concept and process, learn from the challenges relating to social audits, amend its legislation to align with international standards and further strengthen legislation in order to ensure that enabling legislation exists for social audits to operate within. This research provides insights into the social audit concept and its application in selected countries as lessons for the South African local government sector.
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Strock, Christopher Moore. "Seeing Beyond Service - Redefining the Problem of Water and Sanitation Service Delivery in Resource-Limited Settings to Enable Effective Solutions." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/28523.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of water and sanitation service delivery in resource-limited settings using two different social theories (modernization and world system). Understanding that barriers to effectiveness are rooted in global structures that tend to present at local levels helps redefine the problem leading to comprehensive policies and practices. The guiding research questions included an identification of an effectiveness gap in services delivered in developed countries compared to those in developing countries. This study included a survey of water and sanitation professionals gauging their opinions on trends within the sector. Survey respondents demonstrated that the sector tends to align with localized (i.e. modernist) approaches. This may explain the perpetuation of differential patterns in water and sanitation access and associated diseases and deaths in developing countries. Through a case study of Partners In Health (PIH), a medical-oriented non-governmental organization used as a proxy for water and sanitation organizations, this work illustrated why personal and organizational philosophies and perspectives influence how we organize and act. It concludes with a discussion of engineering decision making through the lenses offered by modernization and world system theories; presents an organizational structure that allows organizations to overcome theoretical and geographic boundaries; and offers a set of recommendations learned from PIH and those the sector does well. This research shows how water and sanitation organizations, practices, and policies that consider local and global forces are more effective at delivering services in developing countries than those focusing solely on local forces.Ph. D.
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Mhina, Charles Ernest. "An Examination of the Impact of Administrative Decentralisation on Participatory Local Government and Service Delivery in Tanzania." University of the Western Cape, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/4878.
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Philosophiae Doctor - PhDOver the course of the past three decades bi-lateral and multi-lateral donor agencies, academics and practitioners have expressed the conviction that decentralisation of administrative and political authority to the local level is of central importance to public sector reform programmes in developing states both as a means to improve service delivery and to deepen democracy. However, many states in Africa have had disappointing experiences with decentralisation which have variously been attributed to the underfunding of local governments, a lack of administrative capacity and corruption. In the light of this, a number of scholars have argued that decentralisation in Africa has achieved little in the delivery of basic services and in the deepening democracy at the local level. This has raised concerns that decentralisation, whilst necessary, is not a sufficient condition for ensuring local socio-economic development and participatory governance. This thesis sets out to examine the process of administrative and political decentralisation in Tanzania since it attained independence in 1961, paying particular attention to the current local government reform programme which consists of a parallel system of devolved and de-concentrated government authority implemented through the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF). This hybrid model of decentralisation, which is heavily reliant on donor aid, has been in place for over a decade and a half. The thesis considers the extent to which the combination of decentralised and de-concentrated forms of administration represents an accommodation between the neo-liberal agenda of donors (concerned with the diminution of central state power) and the policy interests of the Tanzanian government (concerned about a lack of local capacity and domestic politics). Based on a case study of three municipalities (Tanga city, and the Lindi and Morogoro district councils) the thesis examines the extent to which the hybrid model is meeting its stated objectives of strengthening local government, improving service delivery, and promoting effective citizen participation. In so doing it examines the particular role of TASAF and the extent to which its activities are supporting the development of effective local government. Empirical evidence, which was generated through a mixed methods approach based on both quantitative and qualitative research, suggests that, notwithstanding the concerns of some local politicians that the model has undermined the authority of local councils, the v combination of local administrative coordination and the technical and financial support of TASAF, has led to significant improvements in the delivery of social services since the reform programme was launched. The thesis also found that the majority of respondents believed that the hybrid model had served to deepen local democracy to a far greater extent than decentralisation reforms of the past. It also concluded that, in spite its evident potential, the future of the hybrid model in Tanzania is highly uncertain, given that it remains heavily reliant on donor funding and is subject to the aid conditionalities imposed upon it. Unless the government is able to increase its own funding of TASAF, the hybrid model is likely to collapse due to the changed funding priorities of bi-lateral and multilateral donor agencies.
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Fenton, Sarah-Jane Hannah. "Mental health service delivery for adolescents and young people : a comparative study between Australia and the UK." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2016. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/7111/.
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This thesis explores policy and service delivery for adolescent and young adult or ‘transition age’ mental health service users aged 16-25 across different jurisdictions in the UK and Australia. The study explores the implications that policy formulation and implementation have for service delivery in these different contextual settings; and examines how young people (who are at a vulnerable stage developmentally in terms of mental health), have their access to services affected by the existing policy framework. A policy analysis was conducted along with qualitative interviews in six case sites (three in the UK and three in Australia). The thesis adopted a critical realist approach using a laminated cross-sectional interview strategy that was developed to include interviews with national policy makers; local policy makers and service managers; staff working within services; and the young people whom were accessing services as the recipients of policy. Findings from this thesis explore how young people use risk escalation as a way of managing delays to treatment and how practitioners identify particular difficulties for young people transitioning in services when they are due to ‘step up’ into more acute services, or ‘step down’ to a less intensive service. The thesis explores the implications and unintended consequences for young people of policy including processes of ‘cost-shunting’ and ‘resource envy’ at local and national levels. Finally, the thesis offers some learning for systems working to support 16-25 year olds through demonstrating the importance of the dual role of ‘curing’ and ‘caring’ in mental health services.
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Mtwazi, Thembakazi. "An investigation of community conflict over basic service delivery in New Brighton township, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018926.
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South Africa has been experiencing service delivery protests especially in the African communities. These protests are a manifestation of conflict and dissatisfaction of communities in the ruling party in government. In order to reduce conflict, it is critical that the ruling party in government addresses the basic needs of these communities as the people start to lose confidence in the government. The study seeks to investigate whether service delivery protests could be prevented through improved provision of basic services in the communities, focusing in the New Brighton Township community, in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality as the area of study. The provision of basic services is important for the livelihood of any community. The study analyses the extent to which poor service delivery can lead to community conflicts or revolt against the ruling party in government. Some areas of New Brighton Township community are experiencing a backlog of basic service delivery. Members of this targeted community fall within the previously disadvantaged category and expected the ruling party in government to meet their basic service needs. Chapter one provides an introduction which gives a brief overview of the study, problem statement, aims, research objectives and questions, preliminary literature review and research methodology to be employed by the study. Chapter two provide a literature review of community conflicts in relation to basic service delivery needs and peoples’ expectations. Chapter three provide the legislative framework for the developmental local government and the role of section/chapter nine (9) institutions especially the Public Protector’s role in relation to conflict. Chapter three will also provide reasons for the establishment of Local Municipalities. Chapter four provides proposals for the approaches and strategies to eliminate conflicts and policy implications. The chapter also provide an analysis of the participants’ responsesfrom the questionnaires. Chapter five will be a summary with concluding remarks and recommendations, as proposals with mitigating measures arising from the research.
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Mac, Gabhann Kevin. "Managing ethno-cultural differences in healthcare service delivery in hospital settings : the Irish experience." Phd thesis, Université de Strasbourg, 2012. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00983562.
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Europe in the 21st century is a continent of cultural and ethnic diversity. Recent enlargement of the European Union to 27 states, constant flows of free trade and the migration of people have resulted in an increasingly diverse Europe. National health systems face the challenge of accommodating the cultural diversity of healthcare providers and service users. The Irish health system is an example of a national health system which has attempted to implement adequate planning and delivery of care and support services, encompassing the needs of minority ethnic communities (MECs) in a new and rapidly changing multicultural Ireland.This research focuses on the challenges of recent multiculturalism in Ireland and describes the Irish health sector's process in the construction of the Whole Organisation Approach (WOA) as the framework for Irish hospitals to respond to the management of diversity and the provision of culturally sensitive healthcare service delivery to members of MECs.The aim of the research is to investigate how six hospitals have implemented the Whole Organisation Approach as recommended in the Irish Health Services Executive's National Intercultural Health Strategy 2007-2012. Research findings indicate to what extent the Irish strategy has been implemented in each hospital and outline factors that promote and impede successful implementation at a hospital level and analyses how each of the three strands, i.e. organisational ethos, workplace environment and service elements necessary to support intercultural training, of the WOA have been implemented across the 6 hospitals.
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Walker, Moira. "A study of the impact of abuse on children, adult survivors and practitioners, and the implications for service delivery and therapeutic interventions." Thesis, Bournemouth University, 2005. http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/10558/.
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This thesis presented for a Ph. D. by publication traces the progress of my work from 1988-2004. The portfolio and narrative herein developed demonstrates that the publications and their dissemination constitute a contribution to knowledge equivalent to that of a traditional doctorate. This portfolio aims to demonstrate how my original contribution to knowledge has been a cumulative process developed from my on-going integration of practice and academic work and that this has substantially impacted on the understanding of childhood abuse on children and on the adult survivors they become, on practitioners working in the field, and on the implications for service delivery and therapeutic interventions. I consider how practice has fed and focussed my thinking on areas subsequently studied, explored and described in these publications; and that these are fundamentally deeply rooted in and with survivors, but significantly extend to consideration of issues for practitioners. I examine how in order for survivors to be truly heard, their voice has to be communicated effectively and be translated into the development of appropriate responses. I have therefore demonstrated not only the intrinsic necessity of survivors of abuse being core to the whole process, but that educating practitioners is of parallel and equal importance, ensuring and facilitating safe and effective practice. I show how my work has made an effective contribution in these respects. The thesis is presented in three chapters: Chapter 1 describes and overviews the selected publications and contextualises these; explores the research journey; examines the methodological base and rationale, and considers the influence of practice. The twelve cited selected publications (Appendix B) are intertwined within the developing narrative, with particular focus on specific key publications, notably the single authored Surviving Secrets (1992) and the jointly edited Hidden Selves (1999). Throughout, I reflect on my own learning and development academically and clinically, demonstrating the crucial significance of the interrelationship between these two. I refer to my publications to illustrate the progress of my development, how these have drawn on and fed back into practice, and essentially how survivors of abuse have continually remained at the very heart of my work. Chapter 2 is the body of the work containing the cited articles and book chapters, including the most relevant chapters from Women in Therapy and Counselling : Out of the Shadows and Hidden Selves. The four books cited. Surviving Secrets: the experience of abuse for the child the adult and the helper; Hidden Selves: An Exploration of Multiple Personality, and Abuse: Questions and Answers for Counsellors and Therapists, are attached separately. Chapter 3 summarises the results of the published works demonstrating their original contribution to knowledge. As this portfolio extends over 16 years, and considerable work has taken place, for the sake of clarity I trace the impact of this body of work, and the contribution it has made, in respect of the four most significant pathways: education, training, practice, policy and service development. The chapter concludes by reflecting on both strengths and weaknesses of this body of work, including further consideration of the methodology used.
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Herlin, Malin, Adrian Mårtensson, and Christoffer Nydahl. "Tjänsteinnovationer inom sista milen - En studie av konsumenters inställning till crowdsourcing, paketskåp och smarta lås." Thesis, Malmö universitet, Fakulteten för kultur och samhälle (KS), 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-24035.
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Det ständigt växande e-handelssegmentet ställer helt nya krav på transporter inom sista milenleveranser. Sista milen är ofta förknippad med negativa externaliteter som buller, trängsel ochutsläpp och dessutom låg kostnadseffektivitet. Sista milen är därför en del i logistikkedjan somhar stor förbättringspotential. Det har därför på senare tid uppkommit en del innovationer inomsista milen som ska kunna öka effektiviteten och minska de negativa externaliteterna.I denna studie har vi, med hjälp av virtuella fokusgruppsintervjuer, undersökt åtta individersinställning till tre olika innovativa leveransmetoder; crowdsourcing, paketskåp och smarta lås.Vi har även undersökt vad det är som påverkar denna inställning och antagandet av dem, samt vilka förväntningar som individerna har på nya leveranssätt. Till vår hjälp har vi bland annat haft teori kring hur individer antar nya innovationer, vad en tjänsteinnovation är samt tidigare forskning om våra undersökta leveranssätt. Fortsättningsvis har vi även haft teori kring upplevd risk och vad som skapar värde för kunder. Med hjälp av dessa teorier kunde vi i analysen besvara våra frågeställningar. Det visade sig att deltagarna generellt sett har en negativ inställning till crowdsourcing och smarta lås som leveranssätt. Beträffande paketskåp fanns en generellt sett positiv inställning. Det var också det leveranssätt som många deltagare provat tidigare. De är generellt sett nöjda med de leveranssätt som redan existerar och därför är intresset för innovativa leveranssätt inte så stort. Vid diskussioner gällande samtligaleveranssätt fördes resonemang kopplat till värde och risk. Beträffande både inställningen tillinnovationerna och förväntningarna på dem uppfattar vi det som att relativa fördelar,komplexitet och kompatibilitet spelar stor roll vid antagande av innovationer. Även recensioneroch “word of mouth” har visat sig spela in.A continuously growing B2C e-commerce sector creates new challenges and a differentdemand in the transport sector, especially in the final step of a logistic supply chain - the lastmile delivery. Furthermore, the last mile is also known as the least cost effective part of alogistic chain as well as the part that is associated with negative externalities like congestion,air pollution and noise pollution, especially in urban areas. Considering this, the last mile is apart with high potential of improvement. This is also why last mile delivery innovations arestarting to show up on the market.With the help of virtual focus group methodology, we have in this study aimed to investigateeight people’s attitude towards three last mile delivery innovations; crowdsourcing, parcellockers and smart locks. We have studied things that can have an affect on this attitude and the adoption of innovations, but also what expectations the customers have on last mileinnovations in general. To be able to analyze our data, we have used a variety of theories,including Diffusion of innovations theory, and theories regarding customer value, risk andservice innovation. Regarding our three service innovations, we have also included previousresearch concerning those.Our research showed a negative attitude towards crowdsourcing and smart locks, and a positive attitude towards parcel lockers, which also was the innovation that a lot of our participants had tried. In general, all participants were satisfied with existing delivery methods, why the motivating factors for using the innovations are few. Discussions regarding customer value and risk were influential in our results. We also found mutual factors in what affects attitude and expectations, factors like complexity, compatibility and relative advantages. Furthermore, reviews and word of mouth also seem to have an affect on their attitude towards the innovations.
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Lujabe, Busisiwe Tando Tabiso. "A strategy to enhance the role of the church as a social service delivery agent in fighting poverty in contemporary South Africa." Thesis, Nelson Mandela University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17876.
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The possible role and involvement of the Church in social development has reemerged as an important focus of contemporary academic and religious development discourse in South Africa. There are strong voices arguing for churches and other Faith-Based Organisations to be regarded as strategic in contributing to addressing the challenge of poverty as agents of social development. Yet, as church congregations multiply throughout South Africa, they appear to be less responsive to the challenge of poverty facing South African communities, contrary to the rich history of churches in the past. The need for churches to be involved in sustainable community-driven development initiatives to fight poverty in their local communities cannot be denied nor be met with just rhetoric and scholarly dissertations by theologians and academics. The vicious cycle of poverty in our communities must be eradicated as it represents a social injustice in terms of South Africa‘s Constitution and speaks to deep structural inequalities inherent in our society. Whilst researchers have made several proposals for churches to move from social welfare and relief, there appears to be little research with a clear practical strategy which congregations can implement to enhance their social service delivery role from social relief to sustainable community development. This has left a considerable gap which the current research sought to address. This study thus responds to the call by previous research for churches to implement strategies other than mere relief. Hence, this study contributes to the religious development discourse in South Africa, by developing a strategy to enhance Church-based social service delivery initiatives from social relief efforts which are not sustainable, to community development efforts which are sustainable and which will be consistent with the current social development policy context and contextually relevant to the socio-economic challenges of poverty and its consequences in South Africa. The study was conducted in two phases. During phase one, the main purpose was to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and current involvement of the Church in providing social services which address poverty in communities, to enhance understanding of the factors which influence the provision of social services by churches, as well as to understand participants views of how church-based social service delivery can be improved in order to fight poverty. For phase two, the goal was to develop a strategy to enhance church-based social service delivery from being social relief to being community development oriented. The following objectives guided the research process: To review selected and applicable literature to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and current involvement of the Church in the delivery of social services in order to fight poverty; To explore and describe the perceptions of church leaders and congregation members of the historical and current involvement of the Church in the delivery of social services in order to fight poverty; To explore and describe the factors which influence Church-based social service delivery in fighting poverty; To explore the views of church leaders and congregation members on how church-based social service delivery can be improved in their churches to inform the development of a strategy to enhance church-based social service delivery in fighting poverty. This study employed a qualitative research approach grounded in the interpretivist social science paradigm. The qualitative research approach necessitated an exploratory, descriptive and contextual method of inquiry. A descriptive case study method was also used, with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa selected as the main case of focus. The target population in this research comprised of Christian churches with a historical involvement in social service delivery in pre-apartheid South Africa. Purposeful sampling of 5 churches was undertaken, namely; Roman Catholic Church (RCC), Anglican Church (AC), Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), KwaSizabantu Mission (KSB) and Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). Data collection was conducted in two phases. Phase one comprised a literature review; Phase two comprised gathering empirical evidence by conducting face to face semi-structured interviews with clergy and from conducting one focus group interview with congregants. The information obtained from participants was transcribed, coded and analysed using content analysis and by a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS), namely ATLAS.ti. Findings revealed a marked difference between the historical and current churchbased social service delivery suggestive of decline, accompanied by the lack of empowerment opportunities for current church leaders and congregation members in community development facilitation. Further evidence suggest the lack of cooperation between church leaders and congregation members; as well as the lack of sustainability of interventions owing to an absence of resources and the lack of capacity to create sustainable economic opportunities. Findings also revealed that church congregations are rich with people with various assets - skills, strengths, capabilities, passions, gifts, talents in various fields, which they can share with one another as congregations and communities. The discussion of findings reflected that historically, Church-based social service provision involved holistic intervention mechanisms, empowerment, collaborations and sustainability of interventions suggestive of second generation strategies of community development, while currently, Church-based social service provision involves mostly social relief and social welfare efforts suggestive of first generation strategies. The findings suggest a holistic strategy for ―reawakening the co-operativeness‖ of congregations to facilitate sustainable Church-based social service delivery towards fighting poverty in local communities. The strategy which was then developed and described with its sub-strategies, namely: Establishment of collaborative relationships Creation of empowerment opportunities Facilitation of holistic interventions The goal of the strategy is to guide church leaders and congregation members in facilitating sustainable Church-based social service programmes to fight poverty.