Child-care centres and their role in supporting vulnerable families : the perception of community social workers

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to explore what roles child-care centres play in the lives of vulnerable families. These roles are further investigated in terms of impact they leave on the vulnerable child, the vulnerable parents and the vulnerable family, as a whole. Moreover, I, as the researcher of this study, also delved into the limitations and obstacles which seem to hinder vulnerable families when choosing to send their children to child-care. This study is a qualitative study, which makes use of semi-structured interviews carried out with eight CSWs who are allocated to different communities and work hands-on with vulnerable families. Three major themes emerged from these interviews. The first theme regards the positive impacts of child-care centres on the vulnerable child, focusing on, identification of maltreatment, learning, attachment and nurturing environment. The second theme revolved around the impacts which child-care centres have on vulnerable parents, centres of finance, opportunity, self-care and parenting. The last theme addresses limitations of child-care centres, their flexibility and policies. This research study provides various recommendations that aim to fill in the gaps in the child-care services and to further attain better quality service. This research indicates that child-care utilisation, particularly for vulnerable families, is an asset. Nonetheless, this study highlights certain issues that suggest that there are various lacunae within the service which discourage vulnerable parents from sending their children to child-care.