Abstract
M.A.
Both community development officers and social workers are involved in the
development of communities. Even though community development implies a strong
concept of teamwork, the researcher observed lack of active participation by
community development officers and social workers. Most of the time one group is
not clear about what the other group is doing.
The study was undertaken among social workers and community development
officers employed by the Department of Health and Welfare in the Northern Province,
Southern Region. It was undertaken in order to describe and compare the role and
functions of social workers and community development officers in a community
setting.
The goal of the study was to develop a strategy for providing an integrated and
coordinated service by the social workers and community development officers for
the Department of Health and Welfare in the Northern Province. The objectives were to:
Describe the role and functions of social workers and community development
officers in the community.
Establish an integrated and coordinated service-delivery by the two sections
The study was descriptive, exploratory and qualitative in nature as it aimed to
describe, explore and compare roles of social workers and community development
officers. It was also contextual in that it concentrated on social workers and
community development officers working in communities in the Northern Province,
Southern Region.
The sample consisted of nine social workers and four community development
officers in different ranks with different educational qualifications. A non-probability
sampling procedure was adopted. A semi-structured interview schedule was administered to all respondents during face-to-face and focus group interviews. A
document analysis of both community development officers' and social workers' job
descriptions was also done.