27 Mar 2019

Some officials from children’s institutional homes have appealed to councils to strengthen their working relationships for benefit of the child.

The officials complained about poor working relationships with social workers during the just ended social workers conference.

The officials from Love Botswana, SOS Children’s Village and Mpule Kwelagobe Children Centre alleged that some social workers had a tendency of dumping children at these institutions without convincing reasons.

They said children should be brought to the institutions as a last resort

Officials stated that family integration was vital because they wanted to reduce de-institutionalisation. 

Other issues they raised included elapsed court orders, indefinite court orders and poor record keeping by social workers.

Ms Dorcus Mogotsinyana from Love Botswana in Maun, an organisation which runs Lorato House Rescue Centre, said it was critical for social workers to update them on the case management of the child so that they could see how best to assist.

The centre is an emergency rescue facility for orphans and vulnerable children between the ages of 0-5 years and children with disabilities from 0 - 10 years.

She said children should not be kept in institutions for a long time  to enable their growth. 

She said they wanted children to grow in a family setup hence encouraging strong family structures in the institutions so that the children could understand the importance of family.

She stated that they had a child whom they took from the hospital in 2012 and had never seen her parents or any other family members.

Ms Mogotsinyana revealed that they had experienced that family re-construction takes long.

Ms Masego Lecha from Mpule Kwelagobe Children Centre advised social workers to also improve in report writing noting that they had experienced that at times children’s reports were not convincing as why they were brought to the institutions.

She further called on social workers to work hand in hand with magistrates to provide guidance on issues of children.

Mpule Kwelagobe Centre accommodated under-privileged and orphaned children between 0-18 years. 

It provided temporary residential care, support and protection to orphan and vulnerable children. ENDS