?Prof Lambert Engelbrecht from the Department of Social Work in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 delivered his inaugural lecture on Tuesday 29 October 2024. The title of his lecture was “Five elephants in the room of social work: An autoethnographic meta-analysis".
Engelbrecht spoke to the Corporate Communication and Marketing Division about his research to uncover the hidden organisational, systemic, and structural causes and conditions that hinder effective social work service delivery, and to translate these findings into actionable strategies for practitioners, supervisors, managers, and policymakers in the field of social work.
Tell us more about your research and why you became interested in this specific field.
My primary research field is social work management and supervision, with a focus on the impact of neoliberal tenets on social work. Management and supervision in social work have distinct characteristics that differ significantly from those in business. When neoliberal or business-oriented management and supervision practices infiltrate social work, the value foundation of the profession becomes distorted, shifting the emphasis towards quantity, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency rather than promoting social change, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of individuals.
As a frontline social worker, manager of a community centre, supervisor of social workers, and research team member or principal investigator in several local and international research projects over the past three decades, I have observed the increasing deterioration of social work services in various contexts, particularly due to socioeconomic influences. These influences are most evident in the funding of social work services and the shaping of welfare policies, which often serve ideological agendas rather than addressing the needs of society's most vulnerable members. This concern aligns with an associated research interest, particularly in the field of financial social work, with a specific focus on financial literacy education and the capability development of vulnerable households.
My interest in this area arose from my experience as a frontline community worker, where I observed that keeping vulnerable individuals financially illiterate, along with using mere cash transfers as a primary form of social investment and poverty alleviation strategy, may represent yet another neoliberal approach aimed at maintaining and expanding the status quo of capital markets and political power.
How would you describe the relevance of your work?
The broader public and, in some instances, social service practitioners, supervisors, managers and policymakers themselves, often unwittingly participate in the unseen detrimental influences of neoliberal-inspired ideologies on social development. Typically, various symptoms of poverty in society are addressed as mainstream social issues when they surface in the media. However, the welfare organisations and practitioners tasked with addressing these symptoms receive meagre support and are often blamed for ineffectiveness.
This is where my research becomes relevant: to uncover the hidden or underlying organisational, systemic, and structural causes and conditions that hinder effective social work service delivery, and to translate these findings into actionable strategies for practitioners, supervisors, managers, and policymakers in the field of social work.
Based on your research, what are some of the major challenges that social work in South Africa faces?
Apart from the multitude of social problems in South Africa, primarily driven by poverty, unemployment, inequality, and exclusion, the majority of frontline social workers in the country remain largely confined to crisis-driven statutory needs and roles related to child protection within under-resourced government departments, public social welfare organisations, and specifically designated child protection organisations.
Social development, as South Africa's welfare policy approach aimed at integrating human and economic development for all vulnerable groups, was intended to replace the consumption-driven welfare model of the previous political dispensation. However, it has fallen short of its promises by allocating most of the social development budget to social grants, while dedicating insufficient resources to direct social work-related service delivery. Severe budget cuts, delays, or non-payment of subsidies by government to private social welfare organisations have rendered these organisations unsustainable, despite their critical role as the core of social work in the country, providing services on behalf of the government and reaching underserved communities and vulnerable populations. The survival of private social welfare organisations may thus be regarded as a foremost challenge in social development in the country.
How can these challenges be addressed?
While the positive impact of welfare grants on the lives of vulnerable individuals and households is acknowledged and applauded, the allocation of the national and provincial social development budgets and funding models to direct social services must equally prioritise the partnership between the Department of Social Development and private welfare organisations.
Alternative funding models for social work, free from political ideologies, fraud, and corruption, are essential for the sustainability of sound social work practices in the country.
The organisational infrastructure, inter-departmental and inter-organisational liaison, as well as the working conditions of social workers in both private and public sectors, must foster the wellbeing and interventions of practitioners, thereby enabling them to serve vulnerable populations effectively. This should serve as the foundation for addressing the country's numerous social challenges, particularly those related to child protection and family preservation.
Being a social worker in South Africa is no child's play. What can be done to empower them?
Prioritising central government funding for direct social work services, particularly to enhance the organisational infrastructure and resources of both private and public social service organisations, as well as enabling dedicated and effective supervision of all social workers with a focus on support, will significantly contribute to the empowerment of social workers in the country. Additionally, the public can play a crucial role in this empowerment by engaging as volunteers in social work organisations, sharing their knowledge, skills, time, and resources in the spirit of Ubuntu, thereby contributing to the nation's social development.
You have spent many years in the challenging environment of higher education. What keeps you motivated when things get tough?
When challenges arise, I find strength in the positive energy of family, friends, and enriching activities, while always remaining mindful of the immense privilege I have working within higher education. Field visits, where I encounter the stark realities faced by social work practitioners, often renews my perspective. Music, nature, and the stories of people overcoming adversity are constant sources of inspiration, reminding me that setbacks are a natural part of life. Yet, we each possess the ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives and circumstances of others, no matter how small we may perceive it to be. And sometimes, it is simply the radiant smile of a student, having mastered a complex task or passed a difficult test, that provides the motivation to keep going.
What aspects of your work do you enjoy the most?
For the past 32 years in academia, one of the greatest highlights of my career has been working directly with students. I have the privilege of introducing first-year students to their very first social work module, while guiding final-year students through their last course before they embark on their professional journeys. I also supervise master's and doctoral students, as well as postdoctoral fellows. Witnessing the complete evolution of social workers—from eager prospective students to thriving practitioners, researchers, and sometimes colleagues—is an invaluable experience and truly the greatest joy of my career.
Tell us something exciting about yourself that people would not expect.
I could play the piano and read music notes before I began school. Throughout my primary and high school years, I took lessons on various musical instruments and completed advanced music examinations. My family and teachers believed I was destined to become a musician. However, my profound love for people, combined with my introduction to qualitative research methodologies, ultimately paved the way for a fulfilling career as a social work academic. Yet, I still fill every possible moment of each day with music, listening to different genres that match my mood, from the moment I open my eyes in the morning until I close them at night!
How do you spend your free time?
I spend every available moment with family and friends, and I am a passionate traveller eager to explore new places and connect with diverse people and cultures. Over the past two decades, I have visited at least one new country each year, and I plan to continue my adventures and discover many more in the future.?
