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Social workers in child protection: Reasons why some leave and others remain in the profession
Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613876527300608 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Kimber, Carmen Develine |
| author2 | Engelbrecht, Lambert K. |
| author_browse | Engelbrecht, Lambert K. Kimber, Carmen Develine |
| author_facet | Engelbrecht, Lambert K. Kimber, Carmen Develine |
| author_sort | Kimber, Carmen Develine |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136190 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:06.958Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136190 Social workers in child protection: Reasons why some leave and others remain in the profession Kimber, Carmen Develine Engelbrecht, Lambert K. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work. Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Kimber, C. D. 2026. Social workers in child protection: Reasons why some leave and others remain in the profession. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/4ff9fdb8-51f9-4ec8-80df-4de0f1799457 In recent years, the child protection field in South Africa has increasingly come under the spotlight, often for reasons that reflect negatively on the profession. Media reports and public discussions tend to focus on incidents where the system has seemingly failed to protect vulnerable children, reinforcing perceptions of inefficiency and neglect. Yet, what is often overlooked are the complex realities and profound challenges that child protection social workers face during their daily practice. Many of these professionals operate within environments marked by excessive workloads, inadequate resources, limited organisational support, and persistent budget constraints. These conditions not only hinder effective service delivery but also take a significant toll on workers’ emotional and physical well-being. Over time, the strain has contributed to a steady outflow of skilled practitioners, leaving behind critical staff shortages and widening service gaps. The inability of government departments to adequately address these vacancies or provide sufficient structural support has further intensified the burden on those who remain. Despite these challenges, there are social workers who continue to serve with resilience and dedication, driven by a deep sense of purpose and commitment to making a difference in the lives of children and families. This research therefore sought to explore the underlying reasons that compel some social workers to leave the child protection field, while also examining the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that motivate others to remain steadfast in their roles amidst growing adversity. This study adopted a qualitative research approach to explore and capture the lived experiences of social workers within the child protection field. A total of eighteen participants took part in the research, nine who had chosen to leave the profession and nine who had chosen to remain. The qualitative approach was deemed most appropriate for gaining an in-depth understanding of the participants’ personal and professional experiences, as well as the factors influencing their decisions to stay or leave the field. The research employed both exploratory and descriptive designs to facilitate the collection and interpretation of diverse narratives. Two non-probability sampling methods, namely purposive sampling and snowball sampling, were utilised to identify participants with relevant experience and insight. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, guided by a predetermined interview schedule that allowed for both structure and flexibility. All interviews were transcribed and analysed in accordance with the objectives of the study. The research document consisted of two literature chapters. The first chapter provided a theoretical and contextual framework to understand the challenges and reasons underlying social workers’ decisions to leave child protection work. The second chapter examined the motivational factors that contribute to some social workers’ decision to remain in the profession, highlighting both intrinsic and extrinsic influences. Chapter Four presented the empirical findings, integrating insights from both participant narratives and existing literature to offer a comprehensive interpretation of the data. Finally, Chapter Five outlined the key conclusions and recommendations emerging from the study, aimed at enhancing professional retention, improving working conditions, and strengthening support for social workers in the child protection field. The study found that social workers’ decisions to leave or remain in the child protection profession are influenced by a combination of personal motivation and organisational factors. Those who left often cited excessive workloads, limited resources, poor supervision, safety concerns, and emotional exhaustion as key reasons for exiting the field. In contrast, those who remained were driven by a strong sense of purpose, commitment to vulnerable children, and intrinsic motivation derived from the meaningful nature of their work. Supportive colleagues, effective supervision, and opportunities for professional growth further encouraged retention. Overall, the findings suggest that Child protection organisations can strengthen retention of social workers by improving support to staff, workload management, and recognition of the emotional demands of the work which will ensure a more sustainable and effective child protection workforce. Masters 2026-04-24T12:16:47Z 2026-04-24T12:16:47Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136190 en Stellenbosch University 213 pages : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Kimber, Carmen Develine Social workers in child protection: Reasons why some leave and others remain in the profession |
| title | Social workers in child protection: Reasons why some leave and others remain in the profession |
| title_full | Social workers in child protection: Reasons why some leave and others remain in the profession |
| title_fullStr | Social workers in child protection: Reasons why some leave and others remain in the profession |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social workers in child protection: Reasons why some leave and others remain in the profession |
| title_short | Social workers in child protection: Reasons why some leave and others remain in the profession |
| title_sort | social workers in child protection reasons why some leave and others remain in the profession |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136190 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kimbercarmendeveline socialworkersinchildprotectionreasonswhysomeleaveandothersremainintheprofession |