Abstract
Social welfare in South Africa focuses on addressing people's needs through various initiatives and programmes. Some interventions, such as the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) and the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), are implemented within school settings and aim to enhance the well-being and academic achievement of children. However, despite these efforts, gaps remain, particularly concerning the psychosocial needs of children and adolescents. This research study aims to explore the barriers and enablers to the provision of psychosocial services by social workers to adolescents in schools based in Tembisa, Gauteng, South Africa. A qualitative study methodology was adopted for the study and the Ecological Systems Theory was utilised as a theoretical framework. The study was conducted through in-depth interviews with 10 social workers who practice within Tembisa. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg. Data was analysed using thematic content analysis. Findings suggest that the social barriers experienced by adolescents in Tembisa require intensive, holistic and context-sensitive interventions through the deployment of school social workers. This study recommends that government institutions collaborate with local organisations to develop and provide additional resources for social workers. The study contributes to academic literature on school social work and social development, and it has the potential draw attention to the need of psychosocial service professionals in disadvantaged schools in South Africa.