Perceptions of social workers on the best interests of children exposed to intimate partner violence

Abstract

M.A. (clinical Social Work)

Abstract: Children are often unacknowledged as the silent witnesses of intimate partner violence (IPV) (Peacock, 2010). Children who witness IPV are likely to manifest a variety of problems including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Moreover, the abuse of women may co-occur with child abuse since many children are harmed whilst attempting to protect their mothers. Social workers are often required to intervene in cases where children are exposed to IPV, and sometimes they need to make a decision that may result in them being removed from the violence situation. However, how social workers make decisions regarding the best interests of children in IPV situations in the South African context is not clear cut and can be influenced by a variety of factors such as government legislation, organisational policy, the social workers’ knowledge and perceptions of IPV and its impact on children, cultural norms regarding IPV and so on. Hence, this study aims to determine the perceptions of social workers on the best interests of children exposed to IPV. Purposive sampling was used to select nine social workers working for Tutela, a non-profit, faith based welfare organisation operating in parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to give structure to the interviews. The study was conducted through the lenses of systems theory. A social worker’s own believes, culture, family background, religion, and living environment play a role in the way they deal with these problems. Other factors influencing their decision making on the best interests of children in these situations are the organisation’s policy and procedures. Social workers are sometimes pressurised by schools, family, or community members into removing children from situations of intimate partner violence, yet to make decisions on the best interests of children are not always clear cut and straightforward. The study found that social workers view the physical and emotional safety and well-being of children as of paramount importance when having to make decisions about the best interests of children in these situations. They agree that removal of a child is not necessarily in the child’s best interests in all situations of exposure to IPV, and that a thorough assessment of the entire situations is necessary.