The experiences of social workers using the services of South African sign language interpreters during micro intervention in the Cape metropole

Abstract

Research on services to Deaf clients, with the assistance of an interpreter, focuses in general on the experiences of the clients or the challenges because of an interpreter. There is however limited research on the experiences and challenges of social workers using South African Sign Language Interpreters (SASLIs) during micro social work intervention with clients who are Deaf. This qualitative study, with the aim to understand the experiences of social workers using South African Sign Language Interpreters during micro intervention in the Cape Metropole, endeavoured to address the gap in the research. The study used explorative and descriptive research designs. The study population was social workers, working at organisations for the Deaf, and using SASLIs with clients who are Deaf during micro social work intervention. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select the sample of social workers using SASLIs with clients who are Deaf during micro social work intervention. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection and the data was thematically analysed. Trustworthiness of the research was ensured by means of confirmability, transferability, credibility, and dependability. The identity and autonomy of the participants were ensured during the research with the application of ethical protocols such as informed consent, voluntary participation, confidentiality, and anonymity. The University of the Western Cape Humanities and Social Science Research Ethics Committee, as well as the managers of organisations for the Deaf which participated in the study, granted permission to conduct this research study. The findings of the research encompassed three main themes namely, 1) experiences of social workers when using SASLIs during social work micro intervention 2) challenges when using SASLIs during social work micro intervention and 3) recommendations to improve social work services to clients who are Deaf. These main themes and nine sub-themes, focused on the experiences and challenges of social workers using SASLIs during micro social work interventions as well as on recommendations to improve social work services for clients who are Deaf.