1. Who will the Social Workers of the future be?
Associate Professor Catherine R Hughes (PhD, BSW, BA)
Unitec Institute of Technology, Te Whare Wananga o Wairaka, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Member of the Council for Social Work Education Aotearoa New Zealand (CSWEANZ)
Very few applicants are denied places in social work programs, despite the admission criteria. The average decline rate across all programmes is 6.85%. However, this is raised because of one school reportedly denying 16% of applicants. If this school is removed the average figure reduces to 5.8%. (Responses =10)
Introduction
Abstract
In an increasingly regulated profession, access to social work education in Aotearoa New Zealand (ANZ) is based upon a somewhat subjective interpretation of fit-and-proper criteria. To meet fit-and-proper criteria an applicant would ideally have no previous criminal convictions, a full drivers licence, access to full funding for the period of study, previous relevant work/voluntary experience, owe no money to the welfare or tax systems, have no history with child protection services, have no mental or physical health diagnosis that could impact on their ability to complete their work, and ideally have a previous successful record of study. This type of criteria risks the whitening and sanitising of the social work workforce in the future. Selection processes used in educational institutes become official gate-keepers of the profession at a time when the world is more ethnically and culturally diverse than ever before. This system will marginalise the already marginalised people in society who may have so much to offer the profession from their own lived experience, yet unable to gain access to education and eventually employment as a social worker.
Background
Jun Social Work Registration Board (SWRB) notification that ‘fit and proper’ criteria is going to be reviewed as part of a review of the SWRB Act, in preparation for mandatory registration of all social workers.
Jun CSWEANZ working group to review ‘fit and proper’ criteria established.
Aug Survey sent out to 17 social work schools and again in October 2015.
13/17 responses to the survey relating to schools’ assessment of ‘fit and proper’ criteria in the selection, education, retention and graduation of students.
Feb Survey responses analysed
Nov Findings written up & presented to CSWEANZ AGM. Findings will form the basis of a written report to CSWEANZ.
Nov Lead researcher gained permission from CSWEAZ for secondary use of data for conference presentation and journal articles in 2017.
Aims
To gain a picture of the processes that Schools of Social Work currently use in selection processes as well as ongoing assessment of fit and proper criteria within programs.
Identify the fit and proper issues that emerge for Schools of Social Work.
Support Schools of Social Work to develop a shared understanding of the issues relating to the selection of fit and proper students
Participate in, and contribute to, national debate and development of fit and proper criteria
Results: Part 2
Schools of social work were asked to identify the formal processes used to determine whether students meet fit and proper criteria during study. Responses indicated that the most commonly used process was the fieldwork component of the degree, followed by a range of disciplinary processes.
Methods
Respondents were asked to identify the type of student concerns they deal with. Primarily, student concerns are academic progression; followed closely by the three categories, distress & trauma, general concerns, mental health, and lastly physical health concerns.
Online survey of all schools of social work in ANZ. Survey conducted in three parts
Part 1: Identify processes used to assess fit and proper criteria on selection of candidates for social work education
Part 2: identify the formal processes used in each tertiary institute to manage student academic performance and disciplinary processes
Part 3: Examine the embedded processes of assessment used to identify whether students meet fit and proper criteria throughout the degree program
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of data performed using data analysis software and thematic coding.
Results
Results: Part 3
Results: Part 1
Respondents were asked to identify the type of assessment embedded within the programme that could be identified as assessing fit and proper criteria.
Responses indicate that 92.31% of schools provide online information for applicants that will allow applicants to determine whether they meet fit and proper criteria before applying to study social work. If the potential applicant then applies, they are subject to numerous processes designed to assess whether they meet the fit and proper criteria for social work education and registration. The range of these are included in the table below.
Conclusions
As most social work educators advertise fit and proper criteria on their websites, there may be numerous potential applicants who do not complete application. Very few applicants are removed during the selection process, which may be further evidence of the self-selection process that occurs during the application process.
Applicants who do not meet all the screening criteria but still apply, may be either screened out during the interview and selection process or during their course of study, if it is determined that they do not meet fit and proper criteria.
Main concerns of respondents:
Maori and Pacific Island applicants more likely to have convictions due to conviction bias in the criminal justice system. Screening them out will result in the whitening of the social work profession when a diverse range of practitioners are needed. Need to believe in the transformative power of education and people’s ability to change and not screen out suitable applicants who may have turned their lives around and want to be role models for others.
Greatest concern is that the current criteria will be further tightened because of increasing regulation of the profession and the move to mandatory registration.