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Durham E-Theses Making Britain `Home': Zimbabwean Social Workers' Experiences of Migrating To and Working in a British City TINARWO, MOREBLESSING,TANDEKA How to cite: TINARWO, MOREBLESSING,TANDEKA (2011) Making Britain `Home': Zimbabwean Social Workers' Experiences of Migrating To and Working in a British City , Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/821/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Making Britain ‘Home’: Zimbabwean Social Workers’ Experiences of Migrating To and Working in a British City by Moreblessing Tandeka Tinarwo A thesis submitted as a requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Applied Social Sciences Durham University May 2011 Making Britain ‘Home’: Zimbabwean Social Workers’ Experiences of Migrating to And Working in a British City By: Moreblessing Tandeka Tinarwo ABSTRACT Recruitment of overseas social workers is increasingly becoming popular with social workers migrating from developing countries to developed countries like the UK which suffer from chronic social worker shortages. Following the heavy recruitment of Zimbabwean social workers by UK local authorities in the early twenty first century, this study focuses on the migration experiences of Zimbabwean social workers recruited from Zimbabwe to come and work for a particular local authority in the UK. The general objective is to examine the forms of support utilised by the Zimbabwean social workers from arriving in the UK, integrating into the workplace and wider society and establishing a ‘home’ away from home. Considering how social capital has been said to bring about positive effects for individuals and society in previous research, social capital is assumed a key concept in this research. Semi-structured interviews were used as the primary data collection method to allow for deep exploration of the Zimbabwean social workers’ experiences together with questionnaires for triangulation. Findings from the study show that the Zimbabwean social workers were able to draw upon different forms of social capital to access as many resources as they could in an effort to develop themselves personally and professionally and eventually establishing themselves as UK citizens. The Zimbabwean social workers’ migration trajectories are far from being linear as most of them live dual lives participating socially, economically and politically back in Zimbabwe while living in the UK with plans to re-migrate for some, and to eventually return to Zimbabwe for others. Research findings may help to improve policy and practice for the recruitment and handling of overseas social workers in the UK and also help to raise awareness of the different types of networks that can be relied upon by these workers within and across borders. i CONTENTS Abstract i Contents ii List of Tables vi List of Figures vi Abbreviations vii Acknowledgements viii Declaration ix Statement of Copyright ix Dedication x CHAPTER ONE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND BACKGROUND Introduction 1 Focus of Research 4 Thesis Outline 11 CHAPTER TWO CONTEXTUALISING THE MIGRATION OF ZIMBABWEAN SOCIAL WORKERS Introduction 16 Zimbabwe: Country Profile and A Historical Overview 17 Social Work Development in Zimbabwe 19 Socio-economic and Political Reforms 22 Employing Overseas Social Workers in the UK 29 Social Worker Shortages 29 Overseas Recruitment and Registration 31 Reforms in Social Work Education 35 More Social Workers Still Required 37 Social Care Code of Practice for International Recruitment 39 Effects of Migration 44 Racism 48 Return Migration 52 Conclusion 55 ii CHAPTER THREE CONCEPTUALISING SOCIAL CAPITAL AND MIGRATION Introduction 58 Social Capital Theory 59 Components of Social Capital 60 Individual and Collective Social Capital 64 Measuring Social Capital 69 Forms of Social Capital 70 Migration Theories 76 Transition 82 Adaptation Strategies 87 The Concept of Diaspora 97 Objective and Research Questions 101 Conclusion 102 CHAPTER FOUR RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Introduction 105 Research Design 106 Pilot Testing 109 Sampling 110 Ethical Considerations 112 Data Collection 114 Documentary Evidence 114 Interviews 117 Questionnaires 120 Data Analysis 122 Profile of Interview Participants 124 The Role of the Researcher 126 Validity and Reliability 138 Conclusion 141 iii CHAPTER FIVE LEAVING ZIMBABWE TO ESTABLISH A CAREER IN THE UK Introduction 143 Why Migrate? 144 Professional Development 153 Induction and Training 153 Career Progression 158 Views on Social Work Practice 167 Conclusion 173 CHAPTER SIX FORGING NEW TIES Introduction 176 Needs on Arrival in the UK 176 Safety Needs 179 Social Needs 181 Family 181 Relationship with Fellow Zimbabweans 189 Relationship with British Colleagues 197 Relationship with the UK Community 204 Esteem Needs 208 Conclusion 214 CHAPTER SEVEN TRANSNATIONALISM, IDENTITY AND BELONGING Introduction 217 Transnational Activities 218 Economic Activities 218 Socio-cultural Activities 224 Political Activities 231 iv Identity 237 Home and Belonging 244 United Kingdom as Home 245 Returning to Zimbabwe 250 Conclusion 254 CHAPTER EIGHT CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Introduction 256 Original Contribution of the Study 258 Migration As A Complex Phenomenon 264 The Explanatory Power of Social Capital 273 Methodological Reflections 281 Recommendations 286 Recommendations for Theory 286 Recommendations for Practice 288 Recommendations for Policy 291 Recommendations for Further Research 293 References 296 Appendices 322 v LIST OF TABLES Page Table 3.1 Dimensions of Transnational Competence 95 Table 4.1 Demographic Characteristics of Research Participants 125 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3.1The Transition Cycle 82 Figure 8.1 Migration As Experienced by Zimbabweans Social Workers Employed by LCC 257 vi ABBREVIATIONS AFFORD African Foundation for Development AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome BWSG Black Waters Support Group CWDC Children’s Workforce Development Unit DFID Department for International Development ESAP Economic Structural Adjustment Programme ESRC Economic Social Research Council GP General Practitioner GSCC General Social Care Council HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus IASSW International Association of Schools of Social Work ICT Information and Communication Technology IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IFSW International Federation of Social Workers ILR Indefinite Leave to Remain IMF International Monetary Fund IOM International Organisation LCC Large City Council MDC Movement for Democratic Change MP Member of Parliament NGO Non Governmental Organisation NVQ National Vocational Qualification PhD Doctor of Philosophy (philosophiae doctor) PQ Post Qualification SAPs Structural Adjustment Programmes UK United Kingdom UKCOSA United Kingdom Council for Overseas Student Affairs USA United States of America WORD Widows and Orphans Relief Development ZANU Zimbabwe African National Union ZANU-PF Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front ZAPU Zimbabwe African People’s Union ZIMSEC Zimbabwe School Examinations Council vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my supervisors Professor Lena Dominelli and Professor Sarah Banks for their unwavering support, guidance and patience in making this research project a success. Thank you Sarah, for giving me direction when I didn’t know where to start from. And to Lena, my primary supervisor, your ability to simplify each stage I went through and make it seem an easy process, including balancing my studies with being a first-time mum. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude towards Professor Rodreck Mupedziswa for the guidance and advice he gave me outside my own supervisors’ and for reading through an earlier draft of my thesis. I also wish to thank Durham University for awarding me the Overseas Research Students Award Scheme which funded my PhD programme and I am also thankful to the School of Applied Social Sciences, Ustinov College, the Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust, the Newby Trust Limited and the Roger and Sarah Bancroft Clark Charitable Trust for the financial assistance along the way. I must also sincerely thank the research students and staff in the School of Applied Social Sciences especially Jill Lea and Helen Charnley for making sure that my time at Durham was comfortable, facilitating that I attend as many conferences and seminars as possible and always making time for a chat when I popped into your offices without an appointment. My special acknowledgement goes to the Zimbabwean social workers who sacrificed their invaluable time to tell their migration stories, without them this study would not exist. Izwi Muyambi and Douglas Machiridza highly deserve mentioning for committing their time and resources to make sure that I accessed as many research participants as possible, not forgetting Constance and Davidzo for their assistance during the preliminary