Experiences and Perspectives of Social Workers in Rendering Child Protection Services

Dear Colleagues,

The child protection process typically begins with prevention and early intervention efforts, but when these measures are not successful, the process may advance to removing the child from their home and placing them in alternative care, such as foster care or residential facilities, with the ultimate goal of reunifying the child with their family of origin. Throughout this continuum, social workers play an essential role. Their responsibilities include investigating allegations of abuse and neglect, preparing reports for the children’s court, facilitating the removal and placement of children in out‑of‑home care, supervising and monitoring foster care arrangements, making referrals to appropriate services, and providing family reunification support.

Despite their central role, social workers’ ability to deliver effective child protection services is often hindered by institutional and infrastructural constraints. Common challenges include limited resources, overwhelming caseloads, and insufficient organisational support. Even so, many social workers find ways to navigate these obstacles and achieve meaningful progress.

This Special Issue aims to explore the experiences and viewpoints of social workers involved in child protection. While not an exhaustive list, potential areas of exploration include the following topics:

• Challenges faced by social workers in rendering child protection services;
• Best practices for rendering child protection services;
• Components of holistic services to children in out-of-home care placements;
• Measures to address challenges faced by social workers in rendering child protection services;
• Theoretical frameworks for rendering child protection services;
• The role of social work in child protection (foster care, institutional care or family reunification);
• The role of foster care grants in child protection;
• Models and frameworks for rendering foster care and family reunification services;
• Guidelines for supervising and monitoring foster care placements;
• Peer, parent and family advocacy in child protection;
• Children’s visibility, child rights and adults’ attitudes towards children.

Dr. Sipho Sibanda
Prof. Dr. Stephan Lund
Guest Editors

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