This study investigates the information needs of formal caregivers of child welfare institutions through the landscape of their roles and tasks. A case study approach using purposive sampling of three children welfare institutions was conducted with a total number of 10 participants. Data were collected through a series of interviews and two focus groups. Qualitative data were analysed using NVivo. Open coding and thematic coding were used to generate themes on the informational roles and needs of the caregivers. The caregivers perform their roles as guardian, counsellor, and administrator which involve informational roles as a monitor, disseminator and spokesperson of internal and external information for the institution. Each role requires specific information in order to fulfill their tasks such as information on the children’s background, daily information required, past education, future education (including sex education) and career path, monitoring of former children, disciplinary action taken on misbehaving children, information related to sports and leisure activities, safety, health as well as children rewards. This paper is significant to this specific community (caregivers of child welfare institutions) in order to understand their information needs, based on the actual caregivers’ roles and tasks. The findings would be useful as a benchmark in providing better information services for the caregivers to perform their roles and tasks in managing children at risk.

中文翻译：

---

马来西亚儿童福利机构正式照顾者的信息角色和信息需求

本研究通过儿童福利机构的正式照顾者的角色和任务来调查他们的信息需求。对三个儿童福利机构进行有目的抽样的案例研究方法，共有 10 名参与者。数据是通过一系列访谈和两个焦点小组收集的。使用 NVivo 分析定性数据。开放式编码和主题编码用于生成关于护理人员的信息角色和需求的主题。看护者扮演监护人、辅导员和管理员的角色，其中包括作为机构内部和外部信息的监督者、传播者和发言人的信息角色。每个角色都需要特定的信息才能完成他们的任务，例如有关儿童背景的信息，所需的日常信息，过去的教育，未来的教育（包括性教育）和职业道路，对以前孩子的监控，对行为不端的孩子采取的纪律处分，与体育和休闲活动相关的信息，安全、健康以及儿童奖励。本文对这个特定社区（儿童福利机构的照顾者）具有重要意义，以便根据实际照顾者的角色和任务了解他们的信息需求。研究结果将作为一个基准，为照顾者提供更好的信息服务，以履行他们在管理有风险的儿童方面的角色和任务。与体育和休闲活动、安全、健康以及儿童奖励相关的信息。本文对这个特定社区（儿童福利机构的照顾者）具有重要意义，以便根据实际照顾者的角色和任务了解他们的信息需求。研究结果将作为一个基准，为照顾者提供更好的信息服务，以履行他们在管理有风险的儿童方面的角色和任务。与体育和休闲活动、安全、健康以及儿童奖励相关的信息。本文对这个特定社区（儿童福利机构的照顾者）具有重要意义，以便根据实际照顾者的角色和任务了解他们的信息需求。研究结果将作为一个基准，为照顾者提供更好的信息服务，以履行他们在管理有风险的儿童方面的角色和任务。