Social work support services for unaccompanied refugee children in the City of Tshwane Metro Pretoria

Abstract

Globally, the migration of unaccompanied refugee children is a growing phenomenon. In South Africa, this trend has necessitated a critical examination of the social work services available to these children and the effectiveness of the interventions. This study explores the experiences of social workers in providing services to this vulnerable population, the barriers they encounter, and their recommendations for improving service delivery. Drawing upon a human rights-based approach, this qualitative research employed semi-structured interviews with eight social workers in Gauteng Province, South Africa, to gather in-depth perspectives on the challenges and successes in supporting unaccompanied refugee children. The findings reveal that unaccompanied refugee children receive a range of social work services, including assessments, basic needs fulfilment, documentation assistance, and psycho-social support. The study also highlights significant barriers hindering effective service provision by social workers, such as challenges related to the documentation of refugee children, the implementation of relevant laws and policies, language differences, limited material resources, systemic limitations within the welfare system, and a perceived lack of specialised experience among some social workers. Despite these barriers, social workers reported positive outcomes in certain cases, alongside instances where services fell short of meeting the complex needs of this population. Social workers interviewed provided suggestions for improvement, emphasising the need for structured and increased collaboration among stakeholders; the integration of refugee children within host communities; and greater government involvement and accountability; provision of training for social workers on refugee issues; and a more effective application of relevant international and national legal frameworks, including the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 and the Refugee Act 130 of 1998. Although the study did not seek the perceptions of the unaccompanied children, and the findings cannot be generalised due to the small sample size, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in serving unaccompanied refugee children and provides insights for strengthening social work interventions.