BSW3704 Assignment 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - Due 31 July 2025

BSW3704 Assignment 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - Due 31 July 2025 Question 1: Protecting Child’s Rights A social worker plays a pivotal role in protecting children's rights by embedding core principles such as participation, the best interest of the child, and dignity into every aspect of child protection services. These principles are outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and embedded in South Africa’s Children’s Act 38 of 2005. Participation involves allowing children to express their views freely in all matters affecting them. Social workers ensure participation by using child-friendly language, conducting age-appropriate interviews, and including children in case planning where possible. For instance, during the development of an Individual Development Plan (IDP), a social worker might include a child’s opinions on where they feel safest or what kind of caregiver they prefer. In advancing the best interest of the child, social workers are ethically and legally bound to prioritize the child’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being above all else (Children’s Act 38 of 2005, section 7). This means considering factors such as safety, stability, cultural identity, and access to education. For example, when deciding between foster care and institutional ca