Riglyne vir maatskaplikewerk-assessering van emosionele mishandeling by kinders

M.A. (Social Work)The important role that social workers, in relation to the assessment of emotional abuse play, necessitated an investigation of the essence of all forms of child abuse, namely emotional abuse. The aim of this study was to set certain guidelines for the assessment of emotional child abuse which could be used by the social workers in service of the "Sinodale Kommissie vir die Diens van Barmhartigheid van Noord-Transvaal". During this investigation a qualitative as well as a quantitative approach was followed, thus, this study could be described as exploring/ descriptive. A literature review, where the indicators of emotional abuse was defined, was firstly undertaken. Secondly, a questionnaire was drawn up and completed by twenty five selected social workers. The aim of this questionnaire was to ascertain what the perception of, the family care worker in relation to the assessment of emotional abuse, was. Furthermore, one focus group materialised and four interviews with concerned parties were conducted. These parties included a social consultant from a state department, a social worker in private practise whom is concerned with the training of people involved in assessment of child abuse and two Commissionaries of Child Welfare. The purpose of these interviews was to determine their perception of factors involved in emotional abuse as well as their interpretation of the definition of emotional abuse in the Act on Child Care. A short, structured interview schedule was used to obtain certain general information that could be of value when interpreting the data. It was concluded that the perceptions of social workers and other concerned parties corresponded with concepts gained from the literature. Recommendations concerning the assessment of emotional child abuse, was also disclosed. Guidelines for the assessment of certain factors of emotional abuse were also expressed