Durban – Managers in the social work sector must have the relevant social work qualifications and be registered professionals.
This was the call made on the last day of the National Social Work Indaba held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.
The three-day Indaba, which started on 24 March, was called by Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini to better understand the challenges faced by social work practitioners and to find ways to improve the delivery of social services in communities.
During the indaba, the practitioners participated in six commissions, where they identified issues to be addressed in the sector and make recommendations.
Most of the recommendations presented from the commissions were included in the resolutions presented on the last day of the indaba.
The indaba resolved that non-social work managers should be redeployed to other areas where their skills will be relevant in order to create space for appropriately qualified and registered social workers.
A standardised programme will be put in place to develop supervision, mentoring, coaching and management competencies and skills within social work nationally.
A national audit of the current supervision and management capacity will be carried out and a plan of action will be developed to address capacity deficiencies.
Retaining competent social workers
To improve the working conditions of social workers and to retain qualified individuals, the current salary, benefit structure and incentive schemes for practitioners will be reviewed.
The indaba also undertook to ensure that social workers are given access to the infrastructure they need to do their work effectively.
Fully resourced employee health and wellness programmes, including debriefing programmes at sub-district level, will also be offered to social workers to help them cope with the stress of their work.
The indaba resolved to market the profession robustly so that it can be seen as a career of choice by young people.
The South African Council for Social Service Professions was given a task to develop and implement a transformation agenda to ensure demographic representation, regulation of the social service workforce and to improve relations with its members.
The indaba resolved to review the current student social work placement practice for improved training outcomes.
It said a social development services academy must be established to ensure continuous skills and professional development of social service professionals. - SAnews.gov.za
