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Social work support services for unaccompanied refugee children in the City of Tshwane Metro Pretoria
Dissertation (MSW (Social work))--University of Pretoria, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613488737681408 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Giliomee, Corlie |
| author_browse | Giliomee, Corlie |
| author_facet | Giliomee, Corlie |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MSW (Social work))--University of Pretoria, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/103442 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:36:56.516Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/103442 Social work support services for unaccompanied refugee children in the City of Tshwane Metro Pretoria Giliomee, Corlie smileyyeukai@gmail.com Pedzisa, Yeukai UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Social work Unaccompanied refugee children Social work services Refugee children Human rights Dissertation (MSW (Social work))--University of Pretoria, 2025. Globally, the migration of unaccompanied refugee children is a growing phenomenon. In South Africa, this trend has necessitated a critical examination of the social work services available to these children and the effectiveness of the interventions. This study explores the experiences of social workers in providing services to this vulnerable population, the barriers they encounter, and their recommendations for improving service delivery. Drawing upon a human rights-based approach, this qualitative research employed semi-structured interviews with eight social workers in Gauteng Province, South Africa, to gather in-depth perspectives on the challenges and successes in supporting unaccompanied refugee children. The findings reveal that unaccompanied refugee children receive a range of social work services, including assessments, basic needs fulfilment, documentation assistance, and psycho-social support. The study also highlights significant barriers hindering effective service provision by social workers, such as challenges related to the documentation of refugee children, the implementation of relevant laws and policies, language differences, limited material resources, systemic limitations within the welfare system, and a perceived lack of specialised experience among some social workers. Despite these barriers, social workers reported positive outcomes in certain cases, alongside instances where services fell short of meeting the complex needs of this population. Social workers interviewed provided suggestions for improvement, emphasising the need for structured and increased collaboration among stakeholders; the integration of refugee children within host communities; and greater government involvement and accountability; provision of training for social workers on refugee issues; and a more effective application of relevant international and national legal frameworks, including the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 and the Refugee Act 130 of 1998. Although the study did not seek the perceptions of the unaccompanied children, and the findings cannot be generalised due to the small sample size, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in serving unaccompanied refugee children and provides insights for strengthening social work interventions. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Social Work and Criminology MSW (Social Work) Unrestricted Faculty of Humanities SDG-03: Good health and well-being SDG-10: Reduced inequalities SDG-16: Peace,justice and strong institutions 2025-07-17T10:03:23Z 2025-07-17T10:03:23Z 2025-09 2025-05 Dissertation * S2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/103442 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.29254328 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Social work Unaccompanied refugee children Social work services Refugee children Human rights Social work support services for unaccompanied refugee children in the City of Tshwane Metro Pretoria |
| title | Social work support services for unaccompanied refugee children in the City of Tshwane Metro Pretoria |
| title_full | Social work support services for unaccompanied refugee children in the City of Tshwane Metro Pretoria |
| title_fullStr | Social work support services for unaccompanied refugee children in the City of Tshwane Metro Pretoria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social work support services for unaccompanied refugee children in the City of Tshwane Metro Pretoria |
| title_short | Social work support services for unaccompanied refugee children in the City of Tshwane Metro Pretoria |
| title_sort | social work support services for unaccompanied refugee children in the city of tshwane metro pretoria |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Social work Unaccompanied refugee children Social work services Refugee children Human rights |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/103442 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.29254328 |