The experiences of social workers referring cases to designated child protection organisations

<p dir="ltr">The child protection system lacks a clear overarching structure of implementation and integration. This study will provide insight into understanding the experiences of social workers when referring to designated child protection organisations to make recommendations for strengthening the referral mechanisms and collaboration between both parties. The goal of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of social workers when referring cases to designated child protection organisations. The following objectives had to be achieved to meet this goal: To explore and describe the experiences, both good and bad, that Pretoria social workers have when referring children to designated child protection organisations. To explore and describe the referral procedure utilised to send cases to designated child protection organisations. To explore and describe the steps social workers take if referrals fail to be successful. To formulate practical recommendations aimed at strengthening referral systems within designated child protection organisations. Therefore, the research question this study pursued to answer was: “What are the experiences of social workers when referring cases to designated child protection organisations?”</p><p dir="ltr">This study employed an interpretivist epistemology, which fits the viewpoint that social reality is constructed by individual experiences, perceptions, and values modified by cultural and interpersonal interactions. Influenced by an interpretivist lens, the proposed study necessitated a qualitative research approach. A research study based on an exploratory design was used. The phenomenological case study research design was used as the researcher explored the experiences that social workers have when referring children who need care and protection to a child protection organisation. The researcher used purposive sampling in order to select participants relevant to specific elements of interest to the research</p>