WOMEN`S UNIVERSITY IN AFRICA

Addressing gender disparity and fostering equity in University Education

INTAKE

DEGREE PROGRAMME : DIPLOMA IN SOCIAL WORK

COURSE TITLE : SOCIAL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS

COURSE CODE : KDSW125

SEMESTER : 1:2

YEAR : 2023

INTAKE : 25

LECTURER’S COMMENTS:

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QUESTION
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OR OBSTACLES THAT SOCIAL WORKERS MIGHT FACE WHEN
WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS?

According to the International Federation of Social Workers (2014), social work is a practice-based
profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion and
the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective
responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work a social work. According to
Chitereka .2009 social work is a profession which seeks to help and empower vulnerable groups in
society such as women, persons with disabilities, children and the elderly as well as people living with
HIV/AIDS. Social workers help individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities and in
doing so social workers also experience challenges or obstacles when dealing with individuals and the
purpose of this essay is to explore and explain the challenges that social workers might face when
working with individuals.

Starting off with gender, as social workers we are not only meant to work with people of the same gender
but we work with both gender regardless of what the case might be and in doing so individuals of the
opposite gender might not be comfortable sharing deep information with the other opposite gender for
example a woman might not be comfortable sharing her sexual life with a social worker who happens to
be a man. This then becomes a challenge for a social worker to get to the root of the story as they are not
fully aware of what the root cause might be because the woman was uncomfortable opening about
opening. Also, social workers for example females might encounter a situation where they must sit down
and talk with a man who believes that no woman should tell then how they should live their life as they
believe that men have got power over women. This becomes a challenge because it will be hard to talk to
someone who has that mindset making it hard for social workers to come up with solutions to whatever
problem these individuals are facing. Clearly gender is a challenge or obstacle that social workers face
when working with individuals.

Moving on, another challenge or obstacle that social workers face when working with individuals is age.
As of nowadays the field of social work is filled with youngsters and with way modernisation has taken
over it is sometimes hard for social workers to sit down and have sessions with older people as they are
convinced that this generation is not as well trained and behaved as the past generations. Also, old people
believe that they should be the ones giving advice instead of them being advised on what to do with
someone who is younger to them. This makes it hard for the youngsters to work with such individuals as
it is more likely that everything they say or every solution they try to come up with will be opposed by the
client. Then the elderly social workers are more likely to face this challenge when dealing with
youngsters as we the youngsters feel or view the world of the old as backwards. This makes it even more
difficult for social workers to work with the youngsters of this generation as we criticise every advice we
be getting because we genuinely feel like we know it all and that we can not be told what to do since it’s a
free world.
A small community is one of the challenges that may be faced by social workers when dealing with
individuals. Maintaining confidentiality and appropriate boundaries is a very important concern in rural
social work. In many small communities where there can be a stigma associated with mental illness,
clients are often worried about having their car identified outside of a social worker or therapist’s office
and becoming the subject of rumours. One of the other challenges faced by social workers is that they
usually live in the same community as their clients. That means crossing paths outside of a session is a
much more common occurrence. A brief run-in at the grocery store can be easy to navigate, but having a
child in the same class presents more nuanced complications. These dual relationships can potentially
jeopardize the client’s confidentiality and the treatment they receive. It is essential for appropriate
boundaries to be set up early in the therapeutic relationship, so awkward scenarios can be scripted or
avoided entirely. Ideally, arrangements can be made so another mechanic services a social worker’s car,
or the two can decide in advance the most comfortable way to approach run-ins at restaurants, school
functions or parties. Sometimes the solution is not always as straightforward: Rural communities often
don’t have many options for schools or sometimes for mechanics either. In those situations, clear
communication and understanding is key.2

Language is also one of the barriers that might be faced by a social worker when they are working with
individuals. There are so many languages for example in South Africa, for you as a foreigner coming from
Zimbabwe and you know English is not even one of the townships languages, so you are trying to find a
most suitable language or an easy language that you can learn for work purposes. I have learnt Zulu over
the years and I had to do it from the internet. Then comes a Sotho-speaking client and then you are
stuck. You know Zulu and this person maybe doesn’t know Zulu and you try to meet half way with the
client, then you have to look for an interpreter and sometimes, it’s not readily available with the
organisations like this, so language is one of the main challenges in working in townships. In the light of
the above finding, the valuable role that language plays in intervening with clients should not be
undermined. Gauteng is considered to be a cosmopolitan province with increasing internal migration
from other provinces or parts of South Africa. Thus, there is a high likelihood of working with clients who
speak other South African languages and not only Zulu, Sotho and English as the official languages of the
province. Though adaptation and acculturation during labour mobility can be language dependent
Pullen-Sansfacon et al., 2014, learning or having a common language could still lead to cultural
misunderstandings Beddoe & Fouché, 2014. In addition, the inability to speak a similar local language
with social work colleagues was also reported and highlighted as a factor through which colleagues
consciously isolated foreign social workers from professional conversations.

Resistance and Lack of Engagement: Individuals may be resistant to receiving help or may struggle with
engaging in the therapeutic process. This can be due to distrust, fear, past negative experiences, or a lack
of motivation. Social workers need to find ways to build rapport and establish a trusting relationship to
overcome these barriers. Limited Resources: Social workers often work with individuals who are in
vulnerable situations or facing multiple challenges. However, they may have limited resources available
to address these issues, such as limited funding, lack of adequate housing, or limited access to mental
health services. Social workers must navigate these resource constraints to provide the best possible
support. Cultural and Diversity Issues: Individuals come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and belief
systems. Social workers need to be aware of and sensitive to these differences to provide culturally
competent care. They may face challenges related to language barriers, cultural norms, and differing
value systems, which can impact the effectiveness of interventions. Burnout and Vicarious Trauma: Social
work can be emotionally demanding and challenging. Social workers often work with individuals who
have experienced trauma, abuse, or other difficult life circumstances. Constant exposure to such stories
can lead to compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma. It is crucial for social workers to practice
self-care and seek support to prevent these adverse effects. Systemic Barriers: Social workers may
encounter systemic barriers that impede their ability to help individuals effectively. These can include
bureaucratic red tape, limited access to services, discriminatory policies, and systemic inequalities.
Advocacy and collaboration with other professionals and organizations may be necessary to address
these systemic barriers. Ethical Dilemmas: Social workers often face complex ethical dilemmas in their
practice. Balancing the rights and autonomy of individuals with concerns for their safety and well-being
can be challenging. Social workers must navigate these ethical dilemmas while upholding professional
standards and legal obligations. Limited Time and High Caseloads: Social workers often face heavy
workloads and limited time to spend with each individual. This can make it difficult to provide
comprehensive support and meet all the needs of the individuals they work with. Prioritization and time
management skills are essential to overcome this obstacle. Resistance from Other Systems: Social
workers may face resistance or lack of cooperation from other systems, such as law enforcement,
healthcare providers, or educational institutions.

Collaboration and effective communication are necessary to overcome these challenges and ensure
comprehensive care for individuals. Group therapy can be an incredibly helpful tool for social workers
and clients, but can present unique challenges in rural areas. Distance between clients can make
physically meeting difficult. In addition, the issue of clients’ privacy can discourage participation, because
those attending might have pre-existing relationships or have accidentally met others in the group
outside of the sessions. For social workers, getting buy-in from those in the group and the community is
essential. Group meetings need clear standards of behaviour about respecting boundaries and
anonymity. It’s also important to understand the history of their community and listen to its members
about what kind of support is needed. In one community, for example, a group of social workers started
a “survivors of homicide” group after legal professionals and law enforcement saw an uptick in violent
crime and a need for additional support.

In conclusion resistance from other Systems is also a barrier that might be faced, Social workers may face
resistance or lack of cooperation from other systems, such as law enforcement, healthcare providers, or
educational institutions. Collaboration and effective communication are necessary to overcome these
challenges and ensure comprehensive care for individuals. Overall, social workers must navigate these
obstacles while maintaining empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to social justice. They need to
continually adapt their approach to meet the unique needs of the individuals they serve.

REFERENCES

International Federation of Social Work (IFSW) and International Association of Schools of Social Work
(IASSW) Joint Committee ( 2014) International Definition of Social Work. Berne: IFSW and IASSW

Marcos, S. ( 1982) The Organisation and Delivery of Social Services in Rural Areas, Association for Social
Work Education in Africa (ASWEA)

Mkhando, J. ( 1981) Social Work ‘A’ Class Notes DSW3. Harare: School of Social Work.
Pincus, A. and A. Minahan (2013)Social Work Practice: Model and Method. Itasca, IL: Peacock.

Sheafor, B.W., C.R. Horejsi and G.A. Horejsi ( 1991) Techniques and Guidelines for Social Work Practice.

GROUP H MEMBERS STUDENT NUMBERS

 VIMBAI M MADODA W230575

 KAYCEE MASIYA W230471
 DEAN MAUNZE W230315
 GEORGE MAKUMBE W230534
 VANESSA HODZI W230216
 MITCHELL TANDANAYI W230573
 TADIWANASHE SAMAWANDA W230310