BRIEFING REPORT: SA COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS (SACSSP) TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON 9 MARCH 2005

INTRODUCTION Brief background of Council. Council’s role and objectives. Establishing of first social service professional boards. Regular funding of Council. Funding received from Department of Social Development.

Introduction continues….. Salaries and service conditions of social service personnel. Social workers leaving for abroad. 1St National Conference for social service personnel. Education and training.

BRIEF BACKGROUND OF COUNCIL SACSSP established and functions in terms of the Social Service Professions Act, 1978 (Act 110 of 1978) as amended. Act inter alia makes provision for the establishment of professional boards for social service professions.

Continues…. A priority of Council is to draft a new act. First SACSSP completed its five year term of office in 2004, laid foundation for new Council, started with establishment of professional boards (another priority of the new Council).

COUNCIL’S ROLE AND OBJECTIVES Council - determining, guiding and directing authority body within structure of social service professions; protector of the interests of clients of social service professions; and promotes interests of those registered with it.

ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRST SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONAL BOARDS Council - umbrella body and juristic person. Professional boards - Council’s delegates, responsible for profession(s) under their ambit. First professional boards recently established (Professional Board for Social Work and Professional Board for Child and Youth Care).

Continues…… Professional Board for Probation Services to follow. Professional board established by Minister on recommendation of Council. Practitioners of profession concerned lodge application for a board to be established, with Council.

Continues…… If application meets criteria, Council recommends to Minister for board to be established. Sets of regulations required to establish boards and for boards to function. Priorities.

REGULAR FUNDING OF COUNCIL Council does not receive money automatically from Department of Social Development. Council’s main source of revenue is annual and registration fees payable by persons registered with the Council.

Continues…… Increase in income derived from fees payable to Council. Councils’ activities divided into programmes each with its own budget. Copy of the Council’s audited financial statements submitted annually to Minister.

FUNDING RECEIVED FROM DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Establishment of professional boards severely taxing Council’s financial resources. Council gratefully acknowledges financial contributions from Department of Social Development.

Continues…… New Council to attend to strategic planning for 2005/06. Submission then to be made to Department for funding for 2005/06

SALARIES AND SERVICE CONDITIONS - SOCIAL SERVICE PERSONNEL Council strongly supports Government’s focus on poverty and accompanying socio-economic problems. Apparent increased demand for services of social workers. Low salaries for social workers a serious concern for many years.

Continues…… Council compiled a Guideline document for the remuneration, service conditions and human resource management in the social service professions in Submissions to Minister and Department of Public Administration, and Minister and Department of Social Development in 2002.

Continues…… Departmental task team to deal with the remuneration, grading and job descriptions of social workers employed in the public sector. Salary adaptations for social workers in public sector. Notice Minister of Labour – minimum wage and conditions of employment in welfare sector

Continues…… Finance Minister’s announced improvement of salaries of social workers in public sector (Budget Speech for 2005/6). Further widening of gap between NPO/NGO and public sectors. NPO/NGO sector a major provider of direct services.

Continues…… Some provinces increased subsidies. Department produced draft Retention Strategy for Social Workers. NACOSS research.

SOCIAL WORKERS LEAVING FOR ABROAD “Brain drain” – An inability to find employment in South Africa. Low salaries and remuneration. High work loads, especially in the case of statutory work. Effect of “global village”

1ST NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS Conference held during October Theme: Dialogue across disciplines – Partnership in development. Co-hosted by Council and Department of Social Development.

Continues…. Attended by 658 delegates. Objectives achieved to establish positive working relationships with all social service professionals. Declaration.

EDUCATION & TRAINING Name change of social work qualification to Bachelor in Social Work (BSW) Degree. All universities to comply with exit level outcomes formulated by SGB for Social Work. Council to play an active role in quality assuring contents of social service learning programmes.

Continues…. FET Certificate in Social Auxiliary Work: - Equivalent of Grade 12 Certificate. - Career path and access to studying of professional degree in Social Work. - Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) now a reality.

CONCLUSION SACSSP sincerely appreciates this opportunity to present Portfolio Committee with some of the highlights comprising the most contentious issues that Council presently deals with.

THANK YOU THE END