Contents of a transformative developmental social work curriculum

ABSTRACT

South Africa is recognized as the most unequal society in the world. In the National Development Plan 2030 in 2012 the South African government has called on social workers to participate in transformation by addressing inequality. A pursuit of social justice highlights the need for a social work curriculum that is transformative in nature and cultivates an anti-colonial Global South approach. Transformative developmental social work based on social development theory is a modality of choice when it comes to practicing social work in Global South countries. It empowers social workers to contribute to social justice in societies that are plagued by inequality. Although South Africa has incorporated developmental social work into its social welfare policies, a knowledge gap still exists that hampers social workers in bridging the gap between theoretical training and practicing in Global South countries. It is, therefore, necessary for South Africa to develop social development training, and practice which answers to its own socio-political, cultural, and economic environment. To reach this objective, a curriculum is crucial in which social justice, human rights, and equality are pursued. The aim of the study was to develop a curriculum for undergraduate social work training in transformative developmental social work to enable social workers to contribute to social justice. A multi-method and multi-phased study approach were used for the purpose of curriculum and programme development. In phase one, a scoping review was done about current social development teaching in the Global South. During phase two, a quantitative cross-sectional study with newly graduated social workers was done. They completed the Social Justice Scales of Torres-Harding et al. Phase three was a qualitative descriptive study with young South Africans that were used to describe their experience of social justice in South Africa. These phases were used to gather information to guide the process of curriculum development. Curriculum contents were then verified using the Delphi Technique by social work teaching experts. The research study produced a curriculum for transformative developmental social work training for undergraduate social work students.

KEYWORDS:

• Transformative developmental social work
• social justice
• curriculum
• inequality
• critical social work practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leandi Erasmus

Leandi Erasmus is a Social Worker with 16 years professional experience. Born in 1979 she obtained her four-year social work degree from the North West University in 2001. In 2002 she continued her studies, undertaking a BA (Hons) in psychology. After working for Child Welfare in Potchefstroom she was elected to the Office of the Premier to become the Youth Commissioner in charge of Social Development in the North West province for a five-year political term. In this time, she continued clinical work in a private practice. Consecutively in 2007 she joined the community development team of the Democratic Alliance in the North West province. In 2009 she was appointed provincial director of the Democratic Alliance in the North West Province. During this time, she continued voluntary social work with children at E. S. la Grange School for mentally disabled children and Ikalafeng School for mentally disabled children. She did contract assessments for Child Welfare Stilfontein and established a crisis centre at the Sasolburg Provincial Hospital. In 2011 to 2012 she served on the hospital board for Potchefstroom hospital. In January 2013, Leandi had the opportunity to become the principal and youth development manager of Girls and Boys Town in Magaliesburg. She commenced her MSW studies at the North West University in January 2016 and has passed all subjects related to the structured course. In 2019 she completed her MSW degree and immediate commenced with her PhD which she completed in 2022. She holds membership as a registered social worker with the South African Council for Social Service Professions.

Retha Bloem

Retha Bloem, Professor at the Centre for Child Youth and Family Studies in Wellington, is a social worker with a 25 year academic research history. As a graduate from the University of Pretoria, born in 1968, she obtained her B.SW, BA (Hons) Industrial Sociology, MA, MSW (play therapy) and PhD in social work at the University of Pretoria. After lecturing for 5 years at the University of Pretoria, in Sociology, she was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to carry out doctoral studies in the USA. However, she did not take this fellowship and preferred to complete her studies in RSA under the promotorship of Prof Rina Delport and Prof Wilfried van Delft.In March 1999, Retha became a faculty member as senior Lector at UNISA leading as Director of the Institute for Child Youth and Family Studies. In November 2001, she was recognized for her higher education leadership by UNISA and contributions in post graduate supervision. She was appointed in March 2011 as head/associate professor for the newly established Centre for Child youth and Family Studies, North West University, Potchefstroom.Her research expertise includes 18 Years post graduate supervision experience, In-house ethics training: North West University – PotchefstroomIn-house research methodology training: North West University – Potchefstroom (Mixed methods, FUNDISA, Somerset-west 2016) In house research methodology training North West University _ Potchefstroom (Mixed Methods, Compres, 2016) She supervised up to date 47 Masters students and 8 Phd Students successfully. Her broad scientific field of interest lies within Humanities – Social Science: Child Youth and family studies with emphasis on intervention, community development, social justice and advocacy. Recent development in creative arts therapy within the field of social work practice Her Second focus is on Higher Education management and researchShe holds membership as Registered social worker with • the South African Council for Social Services Professions • Accreditation as chartered HR Practitioner with SABPP • Registration with SARIMA (Southern African Research and Innovation Research Association) Her participation and contributing seminars and papers include various national and international papers. She has authored and co-authored 7 accredited articles, with 6 national and 4 international peer reviewed conference proceedings. She is part of the Erasmus mundus chapter for international academic exchange and will be in Europe for a period of six months –developing an international curriculum on Child youth and family studies.