EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES IN RIVERS STATE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND REHABILITATION

This study examined the role of emotional intelligence in social welfare services in Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation. It was guided by two research questions and two objectives. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System Theory was adopted. The study was a descriptive survey research design and was carried out at Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation. A sample size of 400 respondents was gotten through Taro Yamane formula. The method of data collection was both primary and secondary data. The frequency table and simple percentage was used to analyze the bio-data of the respondents, while the mean and standard deviation was used to analyze the research questions. The study found that there is a strong positive relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and the performance of social welfare workers in the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation. The study identified several strategies that can significantly enhance emotional competence, reduce burnout, and improve the quality of social welfare service delivery in Rivers State. The study therefore recommends that: there should be regular workshops and training sessions, establish a supportive work environment, introduce regular reflective supervision sessions and create platforms for social workers to share experiences and best practices on emotional intelligence and service delivery.