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The experiences of social workers in using play-based techniques to prepare and emotionally regulate children within the Gauteng court system
Mini Dissertation (MSW (Play-based intervention))--University of Pretoria, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2026
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| _version_ | 1869483937273741312 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Jordaan, Leanne
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| author_browse | Jordaan, Leanne
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| author_facet | Jordaan, Leanne
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| 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 | Mini Dissertation (MSW (Play-based intervention))--University of Pretoria, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/108382 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-07-01T04:06:55.912Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| 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:2263/108382 The experiences of social workers in using play-based techniques to prepare and emotionally regulate children within the Gauteng court system Jordaan, Leanne jessielynneolivier@gmail.com Olivier, Jessie Lynne UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Emotional regulation Children's court Social workers' experiences Play therapy South African court Play-based intervention Court preparation Mini Dissertation (MSW (Play-based intervention))--University of Pretoria, 2026. Children involved in the Gauteng legal system often experience emotional distress and anxiety due to the Children’s Courts’ rigid structure, adult-centred processes, cold environment and unfamiliar language, which can negatively impact their ability to participate meaningfully. Social workers play a critical role in protecting and supporting children, yet traditional talk-based interventions are often insufficient, particularly for those who have experienced trauma or conflict. Play-based techniques (PBTs) offer emotionally accessible and developmentally appropriate ways for children to express themselves, manage overwhelming emotions and engage with legal processes. This study explored the lived experiences of social workers in Gauteng using PBTs to prepare and emotionally regulate child-clients who have been involved in the legal system. A qualitative, interpretative research design was employed, using purposive and snowball sampling to select social workers who have experienced working with clients who have been involved in the court system. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using Braun & Clarke’s (2024) Reflective Thematic Analysis. Furthermore, the study was underpinned by the Ecological Systems Perspective to understand the multi-level, practical complexities of working with child-clients in this context. The findings of the study highlight that social workers consistently perceive PBTs (such as drawing, role-play, storytelling, sensory tools and regulation strategies) as highly effective for emotional regulation, expression, rapport-building and court-readiness. Social workers’ use of PBTs is largely shaped by individual approaches, developmental appropriateness and a trusting relationship between the social worker and child. However, systemic, structural and organisational barriers, including high-caseloads, limited resources, insufficient training and adult-centred processes, significantly constrain social worker’s ability to apply PBTs consistently and purposively. Additionally, the study discusses the uneven access to training and social workers’ reliance on informal or improvised methods by some professionals. These findings underscore the need for multi-level reforms. Thus, the study concludes with recommendations for enhancing child-centred practices, including practice-level guidance for social workers, integration of PBTs into university curricula & professional development trainings, systemic, policy and structural reforms, as well as directions for future research. This may contribute to evidence-based and trauma-informed practice. Social Work and Criminology MSW (Play-based intervention) Unrestricted Faculty of Humanities SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions 2026-02-18T12:18:41Z 2026-02-18T12:18:41Z 2026-05-29 2025-11-08 Mini Dissertation * A2026 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108382 https://figshare.com/s/97add145508feadad55c 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/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Emotional regulation Children's court Social workers' experiences Play therapy South African court Play-based intervention Court preparation The experiences of social workers in using play-based techniques to prepare and emotionally regulate children within the Gauteng court system |
| title | The experiences of social workers in using play-based techniques to prepare and emotionally regulate children within the Gauteng court system |
| title_full | The experiences of social workers in using play-based techniques to prepare and emotionally regulate children within the Gauteng court system |
| title_fullStr | The experiences of social workers in using play-based techniques to prepare and emotionally regulate children within the Gauteng court system |
| title_full_unstemmed | The experiences of social workers in using play-based techniques to prepare and emotionally regulate children within the Gauteng court system |
| title_short | The experiences of social workers in using play-based techniques to prepare and emotionally regulate children within the Gauteng court system |
| title_sort | experiences of social workers in using play based techniques to prepare and emotionally regulate children within the gauteng court system |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Emotional regulation Children's court Social workers' experiences Play therapy South African court Play-based intervention Court preparation |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108382 https://figshare.com/s/97add145508feadad55c |