Social Workers Practice In The Court With Sexually Abused Children

This study explored social workers practice in the court with sexually abused childrenrnincluding the social workers’ role in the court; social workers interdisciplinary involvement andrntheir actual versus the expected roles in ‘Lideta’ Federal First Instance Court, Addis Ababa.rnQualitative case study research method was used to undertake this study. Accordingly it includedrnin-depth interview with four social workers, three prosecutors, one judge, administrator and twornlawyers. The data from these interviews were analyzed using pre coding and coding. Thematicrnanalysis was used as an approach to the data analysis. The finding of the study indicated thatrnsocial workers have diverse roles such as acting as an intermediary between the sexually abusedrnchild as a witness and the court and preparing the child for court under special circumstances.rnFurthermore, other roles such as: referral and advocacy has been discovered as roles socialrnworkers. Social workers as well work with families of sexually abused children in case of interfamilialrnsexual abuse being a mediator and an advocate. What is more is that, the study alsornrevealed, social workers have professional relationship with Prosecutors, Judges and Lawyersrnwhile working with sexually abused children. The study also found out the center of thernrelationship on social workers practice is working as an intermediary. The court also has a widerndiscretionary power on permitting social workers either to be a witness or give an expert opinion

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