(SACSSP) SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIALITIES IN SOCIAL WORK: CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES 1. Criteria for the recognition of a speciality in social work 1.1 A speciality in Social Work is defined by the SACSSP as follows: A particular field of practice in Social Work in which specific activities take place for which additional specialised and in-depth knowledge, skills and expertise on the specific field of practice are required and which could be regarded as the domain of the Social Work profession. 1.2 Social workers may also practise special modes of intervention. This refers to specific methods or procedures of intervention comprising a specific way in which an activity is performed and which should not to be confused with the general methods of social work relating to individuals, families, groups and communities. Examples of such modes of intervention are family therapy, play therapy and hypnotherapy. Although specific knowledge and skills may be required, modes of intervention could generally be utilised across different professions and thus often not be regarded as the domain of a specific profession, such as the Social Work profession. As such the mode of intervention is not exclusive to the profession as such, as would be the case with a specific speciality in the professions concerned. There is, in fact, a vast number of modes of intervention that are utilised across all the different professions, which are applied in the fields of practice/ focus areas of practice of the profession concerned. Therefore, the SACSSP resolved not to register the different "modes of interventions" as Specialities in Social Work. 1.3 A speciality in Social Work thus meets the following criteria: 1.3.1 It is a specific identifiable and definable professional field of practice. 1.3.2 It is not regarded as a mode of intervention. NON NOBIS - NOT FOR OURSELVES Page 1 of 6
1.3.3 The professional field of practice should be the domain of social work, distinct to the social work profession and not form part of the field of services of other professions, which may be the case with the different modes of intervention. 1.3.4 Additional knowledge, skills and expertise over and above the general knowledge and skills obtained to practice general social work are required. 1.4 In terms of section 17C (1) of the Social Service Professions Act, 1978, as amended, the final resolution to register or not to register a speciality in Social Work lies with the SACSSP 2. Application for the establishment of a speciality in social work in terms of Section 17C.(1) of the Social Service Professions Act, 1978 (Act 110 of 1978) 2.1 The SACSSP promotes the philosophy that practice should initiate the establishment of specialities and thus the following requirements should be met: 2.1.1 In order to qualify for consideration by the SACSSP to establish a speciality in Social Work an application should be submitted to the SACSSP by social work practitioners within the professional field of practice concerned. 2.1.2 The group applying for the establishment of the speciality should (a) state its legal status, e.g. whether it is an NGO, CBO with a constitution, professional association or any other group (which should be clearly specified); (b) give a clear definition of the speciality, as well as indicate its demarcated field of action within the Social Work profession, with a description of the major functions performed by the practitioners; (c) provide evidence to the effect that they have consulted nationally and have obtained the approval of the social work corps for the establishment of the speciality, or at least that there has been no significant objection to the establishment thereof; (d) indicate the number of social workers practising in the specific field, as well as their distribution, e.g. areas and types of communities to which their services are rendered and thus where it is generally practised; NON NOBIS - NOT FOR OURSELVES Page 2 of 6
(e) provide a motivation that there is a need in the market for the specific field of practice, with specific reference to the fact that there is a need that the specific field should be a speciality in social work; (f) explain whether a specific body of knowledge exists with a brief indication of its history, indicating particulars of prominent researchers in the field and their work; (g) provide reasons why specialised knowledge, skills and expertise are required to practise within the specific field, confirming why it should be established as a speciality in Social Work; (h) furnish particulars of the current specific learning programmes in the focus area of Social Work that are available on a post graduate level and indicate which providers offer these learning programmes; and (i) indicate what the international trends are relating to the specific field of practice/focus area. 2.1.3 Current applications initiated by practice that are under consideration are occupational social work, forensic social work, social work in health care and clinical social work. 2.2 Apart from initiatives from practice, the SACSSP or Professional Board for Social Work may initiate areas of specialisation and with the necessary consultation with all relevant stakeholders initiate the processes to have a speciality recognised within the social work profession. 2.3 The SACSSP and the Professional Board for Social Work recommend that the following areas of specialisation be considered as specialised areas within the social work profession and that the processes outlined in this document be facilitated to have them recognised by the sector: Probation Services, management and supervision, school social work, social work education and policy and planning. The only current area of specialisation, namely adoption work should continue to be a specialised area in social work. With reference to the initiatives from the SACSSP and Professional Board for Social Work to have areas of specialisation established, it is important that the profession will duly recognise these specialised fields and that social workers will be active NON NOBIS - NOT FOR OURSELVES Page 3 of 6
participants in formulating the area of specialisation, especially those social workers practising within the particular proposed area of specialisation. 2.4 The SACSSP recommends the following phases in the establishment of the areas of specialisation: Phase 1 of implementation: Adoption work, occupational social work, forensic social work, clinical social work, social work in health care, probation services, management and supervision Phase 2 of implementation: School social work, social work education, social policy and planning 3. PROCESS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPECIALITY The Professional Board concerned, the SACSSP or a specific interest group may initiate the development of a speciality within a profession. The following procedures must be followed: 3.1 The Professional Board, the SACSSP or the specific group that wishes to establish the speciality must motivate in writing for the establishment of the speciality in Social Work and submit in writing all the relevant aspects referred to in paragraph 2. 3.2 The Professional Board concerned will consider the application and after the completion of thorough consultation processes with all relevant stakeholders, make a recommendation to the SACSSP regarding the establishment or not of the speciality. The recommendation to the SACSSP should include the financial implications for the implementation of the speciality. 3.3 On the approval of the speciality, the SACSSP will draft regulations in terms of section 28(1)(gA)(i) and (ii) of the Act, relating to the requirements to be complied with by an applicant for the registration of a speciality and the conditions subject to which a social worker may practise in respect of the registered speciality. 3.4 The draft regulations should be consulted with all stakeholders before submitted to the Department and Minister of Social Development for approval and publication in the Government Gazette. 3.5 On publication of the Regulations, a register will be opened and applicants will be in a position to register the speciality. NON NOBIS - NOT FOR OURSELVES Page 4 of 6
4. REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO REGISTER A SPECIALITY IN SOCIAL WORK 4.1 On application to register a speciality in a specific field of practice in Social Work, an applicant should meet the following minimum requirements: 4.1.1 Be registered as a social worker with the SACSSP; and 4.1.2 Have in addition to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at least a post basic qualification registered with SAQA and within the specific field of practice plus at least two years of appropriate and relevant experience as a social worker in the designated field; or 4.1.3 In addition to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), have five years of relevant and appropriate experience as a social worker in the designated field and; 4.1.4 Demonstrate expertise in the relevant field by meeting the assessment criteria of the SACSSP for the purpose of determining whether the social worker concerned is competent to practise the speciality concerned. 4.2 Social Workers that have registered as specialists should adhere to the policy of the SACSSP regarding Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and should ensure that the CPD that they attend include specific development related to the area of specialisation that is being practised. 4.3 The applicants may apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL) by recognised providers for access to post basic qualifications or credits towards a post basic qualification in line with the SACSSP s RPL policy for the Social Service professions. 5. CONDITIONS FOR THE PRACTISING OF THE SPECIALITY 5.1 A social worker who has complied with the requirements referred to in paragraph 4, may practise the speciality subject to the following conditions: 5.5.1 Must pay the prescribed registration fee relating to the registration of the speciality NON NOBIS - NOT FOR OURSELVES Page 5 of 6
5.5.2 The social worker may call him/herself a specialist in the specific field of practice/focus area of social work and may indicate the speciality in public. 5.5.3 The specialist speciality before 31 March of each year, as well as assessment fees referred to in paragraph 4.1.4, if required. 5.5.4 Although the intention of regulating the speciality concerned is to ensure competency on a high level, practising within the field of the speciality is not exclusive to those social workers that have registered the speciality. However, no social worker may call him/herself a specialist in the specific field of practice, or award the designation of the field to his or her scope of practice without having registered as a specialist with the SACSSP. SACSSP JUNE 2008 NON NOBIS - NOT FOR OURSELVES Page 6 of 6