Child Welfare Management and Social Work Supervision in Orphanages in Ogun State

Effective management and professional supervision of child welfare in orphanages are critical determinants of quality care and developmental outcomes for children in residential settings. This study examines child welfare management and social work supervision practices in orphanages in Ogun State, South West Nigeria, with focus on registered institutions in Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode. A mixed-method design is adopted, with 65 orphanage managers, social workers, and caregivers surveyed using structured questionnaires, with additional data gathered through document review and observation. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis are employed in data interpretation. The study finds that child welfare management in the sampled institutions is inconsistently guided by professional standards, with many facilities lacking qualified social workers and relying on untrained volunteers for direct care. Supervision practices are ad hoc and rarely follow formal models informed by social work professional frameworks. Case recording and documentation are described as inadequate, limiting continuity of care and accountability. Findings highlight that children in orphanages with qualified social work oversight show better educational and psychosocial outcomes. Recommendations include mandating minimum staffing standards for orphanages that require at least one qualified social worker per facility, developing a supervision model appropriate for residential child care, and strengthening the regulatory inspection regime for orphanages by the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Keywords: child welfare management, orphanages, social work supervision, Ogun State, residential care