An evaluation of Social Work and counselling services offered to undergraduate students within the University of Limpopo

Abstract

The study focused on an evaluation of Social Work and counselling services rendered to undergraduate students within the University of Limpopo. The study aimed to evaluate both social work and counselling services offered to undergraduate students at the University of Limpopo by ascertaining the effectiveness, utilisation rate, describing the collaboration that exists between the centres from which the services are offered, and determining the mode in which students are made aware of the services under evaluation as well as the challenges faced by the practitioners when they render their respective services. The study employed a qualitative research approach and an evaluative design. The General Systems Theory and Evaluation Theory were employed. The General Systems Theory was used to explain the relatedness of all the sub-systems in making the whole system functional. In this case the sub-systems are the centres that exist and work together within the university in order for the university to reach its purpose for existence. The theory shows that if one or more sub-systems are dysfunctional, the functionality of the whole will be negatively impacted. The Evaluation Theory was employed to guide the researcher on what evaluation is, how and by whom it should be carried out. A convenience sampling method was used because all the people in the population of the study stood a chance to participate in the study and no preference was given to anyone. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Limpopo’s Turfloop Research Ethics Committee and gatekeeping permissions were given by the Centre for Student Counselling and Development and Student Health and Wellness Centre. No one was coerced to participate in the study, that is, the participants participated voluntarily. The findings of the study indicated that students were aware of counselling services from the Centre for Student Counselling and Development but not aware of the existence of Social Work services for students within the university. The study also revealed that the effectiveness of the services under evaluation high amongst those who had utilised the services and perceived to be highly effective by those who had not yet utilised the services. The study also established that there were proper referral channels for referring students to various service provider including the ones that the study seeks to evaluate. As such, the practitioners also indicated some of the challenges they face when rendering their services to be lack of awareness of Social Work services by the student populace, lack of commitment from students and being under-staffed since their target population is huge compared to the number of professionals employed to service them. Through recommendations yielded by the study, students are encouraged to play their role in making the services effective by committing and attending to the prescribed sessions, the social worker needs to strengthen the awareness efforts in place to market the services and the management of the university is advised to re-assess the professional-student ratio and work on balancing it.