https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/947 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:52:19 GMT 2026-04-19T04:52:19Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2694 Title: Social workers perceptions of play techniques in social work assessment Abstract: This is a qualitative study about the perceptions and experiences of social workers who make use or have made use of play techniques. The method of data collection consists of eight in-depth structured interviews with eight social workers working with children, however in different settings. The data collection was designed to gather the perceptions and experiences of social workers who make use or have made use of play techniques in the social work assessment. The key finding of this study is that social workers interviewed perceive play techniques as enabling social workers‟ assessment and enabling children deal with challenging situations. Social workers also commented on some hindering factors they face. This study includes recommendations made by the social workers themselves alongside those emerging from the data gathered. Findings highlight the importance of the use of play techniques with children locally since the use of play techniques tend to be underutilized in Malta. Description: B.A.(HONS)SOC.WORK Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2694 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2693 Title: Are you understanding me? : the casework relationships being constructed in church school social work Abstract: This main aim of this research is to evaluate the casework relationships being built by the school social workers at the Directorate for Education services in Catholic Church schools. The research is a qualitative research and it interviews five school social workers and two adolescent clients. The research makes use of the triangulation method and common variable analysis to discover what kind of casework relationships the five school social workers had achieved and what level of importance they gave to establishing casework relationships with their clients. The research also investigates why casework relationships were perceived as important from the social workers and what they thought hindered and pushed forward a casework relationship. The research also takes into consideration five case examples which give a more in depth perception of the casework relationships the social workers managed to establish with their adolescent client. The research takes into consideration adolescent clients between the ages of thirteen and sixteen. Two adolescent clients mentioned in the case examples were then interviewed to gain a different point of view of the case presented. The perceived change and level of satisfaction the clients felt thanks to the casework relationships were also taken into consideration as an independent variable of the possible effects the casework relationships had on the clients’ lives. The research discovered that establishing a good casework relationship was a vital aspect of these social workers’ practice. The social workers gave significant importance to constructing a good relationship with the client and believed it was basic for good practice. The social workers gave various statements to what pushes forward or hinders a casework relationship. Some of these statements were: the appearance of the social worker, the jargon used and the relationships with other professionals. The five case examples give real life instances of how the casework relationships were established, what might have unsteadied them and how they progressed through the social work intervention. The two clients that were interviewed said that they felt truly supported by their social workers and described their casework relationship as a good one. In summation, this research has portrayed an exploration of whether an important part of social work theory is being given sufficient value and whether it is being transferred down to practice. Description: B.A.(HONS)SOC.WORK; Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2693 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2374 Title: Mothers undergoing drug rehabilitation programme : is the mother-child relationship effected and/or changed Abstract: Drug addiction is a personal choice. Research indicates that often an individual starts with experimentation with illicit or prescribed drug use that at times progresses to problematic drug use and/or a total loss of control. Causes of addiction vary from high peer pressure to increase level of stress, anxiety and depression. Throughout the process, the addict detaches from reality causing various problems especially in close relationships and reattach once the addict enters a residential rehabilitation. This study seeks to identify whether the mother-child relationship becomes effected and/or changed once the mother enters rehabilitation. For this study, I conducted nine (N=9) in depth interviews. Seven of the interviewees were mothers undergoing residential rehabilitation or have successfully completed rehabilitation and have been clean and sober for over a year. The other two interviewees were professionals who have either worked with or are working with addicted mothers. From the analysis of this study, it was evident both from the mother’s and professional’s perspective that the mother-child relationship is effected throughout the rehabilitation process since mothers receive various therapies which help to improve the dynamics of the relationship. Such improvement was shown in the attachment styles, parenting styles and behavior modification of the mother towards her child. Such outcomes have led to positive changes in the child’s life and as a result, the relationship between the two evolved since communication and trust was being re-build. However, sometimes, negative outcomes still derived from such relationship especially when children are of older age. Description: B.A.(HONS)SOC.WORK Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2374 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2372 Title: The impact of fostering on the foster carers’ relationship Abstract: The aim of this study is to bring out the effects of fostering upon the relationship of foster carers. It looks at the difficulties and challenges encountered by the couples which in turn affect their relationship. Due to the topic being an under-researched area both internationally as well as locally, such qualitative study seeks to identify the situations which are mostly relevant to foster carers as well as highlight the need for improvement vis-a-vis the current social work service in terms of the on-going training and support which is currently being provided to foster carers. The research design of this study is qualitative in approach. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with twelve approved foster carers living in Malta and Gozo. The purpose of these interviews was to provide a narrative of the challenges that are experienced through fostering and how, according to the foster carers themselves, such challenges impinge upon one‟s relationship with his or her partner. The use of thematic analysis was employed to bring to the fore a number of themes throughout the process of data analysis. The study shows that foster care does indeed affect the relationship of the couple. Although the extent to which foster care affects their relationship was seen differently by each foster carer, results point towards the fact that pre-service training is not enough in relation to the real life challenges that are experienced, particularly with regards to relationship matters. Several stressors were mentioned by foster carers. These include tiredness, lack of time to communicate with other members of the family including partner and differences in disciplinary approaches among others. Social Work support was also highlighted as an ingredient which seems to be lacking in most of the participants‟ situations, whereby foster carers expressed their awareness of heavy caseloads being followed by Social Workers, thus limiting their time to focus on foster carers‟ relationship issues. Spirituality was a theme which featured commonly throughout. Participants have stressed the importance of seeking strength and patience when dealing with problems, and they acknowledged their faith as a means to cope with the demands of fostering. Sharing the responsibility of fostering with one‟s partner was another theme which has strongly come out through this study. Looking back on the findings, one can say that a stronger commitment towards relationship issues within the realm of foster care is required for the best interest of the children who are being fostered as well as that of the family who is providing this service. Description: B.A.(HONS)SOC.WORK Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2372 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z