SPD: Social Development

      Social Development  Prevention Programs  Workplace Skills Plan  Transformation Schedule

Social Development

Linking of social welfare services to economic policies and programmes will achieve social development in the region of Gauteng North for people with disabilities.

• It is estimated that the service region has 164 000 persons with one or other disability. In the urban area of Tshwane various NGO’s are operative, but in the rural areas hardly any resources exist.
• The organisation services Atteridgeville [including Saulsville, Jeffsville, Lotus Gardens], Bronkhorstspruit [including Cullinan, Onverwacht, Refilwe, Zitobeni],

      Hammanskraal [including Kanana & …….], Mamelodi [including Nelmapius, &      Mandela Village], Pretoria and Soshanguve. All surrounding informal settlements  in these areas are serviced from 14 offices by a manager, assistant manager, six  social workers and 5 auxiliary social workers. No less than 8908 service consumers received services during 2007.

• Poverty due to unemployment, limited education and qualifications and high prevalence of HIV/Aids are observed as major social pathologies. Handling of applications for State grants, Children’s Court inquiries and statutory supervision are the main functions at this time.
• Community projects such as literacy classes, food gardening and sewing classes are presented in all communities. Various awareness campaigns in conjunction with other stake holders are organized addressing disability issues and youth concerns
• A challenge is experienced with staff turn-over resulting in continuous orientation of new staff – a common phenomena amongst NGO’s. Further challenges entail numerous State grant applications leaving limited time to initiate training programmes  and entrepreneurial projects.

Care of the "carer" materializes in capacity building programmes that are regularly provided.

Prevention Programs

Our prevention programs address the following:

Researching causes of disabilities and observing trends.

·         The causes identified are:
 

o        Violence

o        Poverty

o        Lack of Information

o        Failure of medical services

o        Unhealthy lifestyles

o        Environmental factors.

o        Accidents

o        Social environment
 

·         Designing of prevention programmes for families in primary health and home safety.
 

·         Participation in road safety projects.
 

·         Action against violence, substance abuse and environmental factors.

Workplace Skills Plan

• South African Council for Social Service Profession Ethics Workshop
   

• 27 August 2008 – Sunnyside, Pretoria: Two Auxiliary Social Workers to attend.
   

• 29 August 2008 – Cullinan: Two Auxiliary Social Workers to attend.
   

• 17 September 2008 – Soshanguve: Two Auxiliary Social Workers to attend.
   

• Establish a support group for women in Soshanguve. The aim will be to create a warm environment so that each member will be able to feel free to express themselves and to set group rules.
   

• Establishing a support group of 20 people with disabilities. The aim of this group is to identify the challenges and needs facing people with disabilities in the area.
   

• Establish a group of 15 student volunteers in Kekana Gardens. The volunteers will assist in home visits.

Transformation Schedule

The Gauteng North Services to People with Disabilities (SPD) transformation process is on track with prescribed guidelines. The composition of the organisation’s employees entails Africans, women and people with disabilities.

The breakdown of the organisation’s personnel status is as follows:

RACE AND GENDER

MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE BOARD

D = Person with a disability.