REGISTRATION OF APPLICANTS WITH FOREIGN QUALIFICATIONS AS SOCIAL WORKERS WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS (SACSSP) 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1. PURPOSE 3 2. METHOD 3 3. PROCESS 3 4. ASSESSMENT TEAM 4 5. WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS 4 6. PERSONAL INTERVIEW 9 7. OUTCOME OF THE APPLICATION 9 ANNEXURE 1: EXIT LEVEL LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 2
1. PURPOSE To assess foreign qualified social workers with the view to registering them as social workers with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP), and enabling them to practice as social workers in South Africa. 2. METHOD 2.1 Application to the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for assessment and benchmarking of existing qualifications. 2.2 Completion of Form of Validation by the university that conferred the qualification (See annexure A). 2.3 Completion of the application form for registration and payment of registration fee. 2.4 Submission of six written assignments. 2.5 Personal interview. 2.6 On approval payment of annual fee to remain registered with the SACSSP. 3. PROCESS 3.1 Applicants apply to SAQA for the academic accreditation and benchmarking of their existing qualifications obtained outside South Africa. (See annexure B for details.) The purpose of the SAQA accreditation is to determine whether academic qualifications are equal to the minimum academic qualification required in South Africa. 3.2 Applicants complete an application form for registration and submit it together with the required additional documents, as specified in Annexure B, plus the proof of payment of the registration fee to the SACSSP, Private Bag X 12, GEZINA, 0031, South Africa. 3.3 The SACSSP will acknowledge receipt of the application form, documentation and the prescribed registration fees in writing. The applicant will be given a reference number and must quote this number in all subsequent correspondence. The reference number will only be issued on receipt of completed application and full payment. 3.4 Should the academic qualification be accredited by SAQA as equal to the minimum South African qualification in Social Work, the SACSSP and the applicant should then attend to the assessment tasks to be completed by the candidate, supplying the target dates by which the tasks must reach the SACSSP, as well as information on the portfolio that must be compiled. 3.5 The SACSSP will assess the submitted tasks and portfolio and convey the outcome of the assessment to the applicant. 3.6 After the applicant has passed, each of the assignments with at least 50%, the SACSSP will consider the portfolio and arrange for a personal interview to be conducted at the offices of the SACSSP in Pretoria. 3.7 Should the qualification not be regarded as equal to the degree of Bachelor of Social Work in South Africa by SAQA, the candidate will be notified accordingly. Please note that registration fees are not refundable. 3
3.8 Having completed the personal interview, the candidate will be notified of the outcome within 5 working days and the registration with the SACSSP as a social worker will proceed once the required annual fees have been paid. 3.9 Should a candidate not pass an assignment or the personal interview, a time period within which the interview can be repeated will be specified. An additional fee will be charged for reassessment. A candidate will be allowed two assessment opportunities within a time slot determined by the SACSSP. 3.10 Within a specified period of time, the candidate will receive a registration certificate and the registration number of the applicant will be confirmed. 3.11 Registration with the SACSSP does not in any way guarantee employment in either the public or private sector. 4. ASSESSMENT TEAM The SACSSP nominates an assessment team comprising representatives from for example the SACSSP, the Professional Board for Social Work, social work practice and academia. 5. WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS Candidates must complete all six assignments and submit them to the SACSSP at least six months before the personal interview. Fax: 27 12 356 8300 Email: mail@sacssp.co.za Registered mail: SACSSP, Private Bag X 12, GEZINA, Pretoria, 0031, South Africa. Street address: 37 Annie Botha Avenue, RIVIERA, Pretoria, 0084, South Africa Technical requirements for assignments: All assignments MUST- be typed in one and a half spacing, with a margin of 20mm (1 inch), be a maximum of five pages and bound in a plastic cover; have a cover page indicating the assignment number, the name and surname of the candidate, postal address, and the reference number allocated to the candidate by the SACSSP; have a table of contents; include references in the text where applicable; have a full bibliography; and contain a word count and the number of pages of each assignment. Keep a copy of your assignments should the submitted assignment be lost. 4
Applicants should use their own work experience or fieldwork done as a student to explain and illustrate their achievement of the 27 Exit Level Outcomes and the Associated Assessment Criteria (AAC) of the Bachelor of Social Work (See Annexure B). The table below indicates the breakdown of the assignments and their linkage to the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria according to the following five categories: CATEGORIES EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 1:Policy and legislation 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 2:Intervention 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 3: Inequality and social inclusion 13, 14, 24, 27 4: Management, Administration and Supervision 5, 21, 22, 23, 4:Research 11 5.1 POLICY AND LEGISLATION ASSIGNMENT 1: POLICY AND LEGISLATION (ELO 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26) Write an essay to demonstrate your understanding of South Africa according to the following sub-themes. (Some key reference sources that could be consulted for each sub-theme are indicated at the end of each sub-theme under the heading References. An internet search using key words will also produce many references). 1.1 Explain the South African geographical context 1.1.1 Present an A4 map of South Africa indicating all the provinces of South Africa as well as the countries bordering South Africa. 1.1.2 Indicate the administrative, legislative and judicial capitals of South Africa on the map. 1.1.3 Indicate, at the bottom of the map, the total square kilometre surface of South Africa and compare it percentage wise with your own country, which you should specify. 1.1.4 Indicate, at the bottom of the map, the estimated total population of South Africa and compare it with the total population of your own country according to the most recent population census/estimation. References: A good atlas published not later than 2000. Map sites on the Web. 1.2 Explain the South African demographic context Present in table format the following demographic characteristics of South Africa: 1.2.1 Total population 5
1.2.2 Age distribution 1.2.3 Gender distribution 1.2.4 Racial distribution 1.2.5 Language distribution 1.2.6 Religious affiliation 1.2.7 Birth rate for the various racial groups in South Africa References: www.statssa.gov.za Consult the publication, Stats in Brief. South African Year Book: Can be accessed on the net. 1.3 Explain social security in South Africa Compile a table reflecting the estimated number of persons receiving pensions/grants. Specify the amount of the pension/grant. 1.3.1 Old age pensions. 1.3.2 Disability grants. 1.3.3 Child care grants. 1.3.4 Foster care grants. References: South African Year Book. Can be accessed on the net. Integrated Service Delivery Model towards improved social services: http://www.welfare.gov.za/index.htm 1.4 Discuss legislation relevant to social work in South Africa 1.5 Make a list of the South African Acts relating to: 1.5.1 Child welfare and child protection 1.5.2 Mental health 1.5.3 Domestic violence 1.5.4 Divorce 1.5.5 Addictions 1.5.6 Abortion (termination of pregnancy) References: http://www.welfare.gov.za/index.htm www.acts.co.za www.life-link.org.za South African Year Book. Can be accessed on the net. Reflect on information presented and illustrate its relevance to social development and social work practice indicating how you have achieved two of the above ELOs and related ACC. ASSIGNMENT 2: POLICY AND LEGISLATION (ELO 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26) Discuss ten principles of the South African White Paper for Social Welfare (1997 and compare these to the values, principles and practices during apartheid. Explain in your presentation how you have achieved two of the above-mentioned ELOs and AAC. The White Paper for Social Welfare can be obtained from www.gov.za 6
It would also be useful to consult the following South African professional social work journals such as Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk and The Social Work Practitioner- Researcher in which you will find some informative articles dealing with the new welfare policy and other relevant topics. Provide a bibliography of the references used in the essay. 5.2 INTERVENTION ASSIGNMENT 3: INTERVENTION (ELO 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12) 5.2.1 Casework Produce a case illustration of casework with a client (child, adolescent, adult) indicating your achievement of three of the abovementioned ELOs and ACC: OR 5.2.2 Group work Illustrate how you used group work in social work intervention with one of the vulnerable groups mentioned in the White Paper for Social Welfare (1997) indicating: how you achieved three of the abovementioned ELOs and ACC. OR 5.2.3 Community work Illustrate how you used community work in social work intervention with one of the vulnerable groups mentioned in the White Paper for Social Welfare (1997) indicating: how you achieved three of the abovementioned ELOs and ACC. 5.3 INEQUALITY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION ASSIGNMENT 4: INEQUALITY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION (ELO 13, 14, 24, 27) Identify one barrier for empowerment facing a vulnerable group in respect of factors such as race, class, culture, ethnicity, gender, differential abilities and sexual orientation at two of the following levels: personal, institutional, cultural, or structural. Select and discuss an intervention strategy you would use for addressing this barrier. Demonstrate how this intervention strategy will enable you to achieve one of the abovementioned ELOs and the AAC. You may add any additional material to the assignments. When applicable you can produce documentary evidence to confirm how you have achieved the ELOs and AAC. 5.4 MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION ASSIGNMENT 5: MANAGEMENT. ADMINISTRATION AND 7
SUPERVISION (ELO 5, 21, 22, 23) Illustrate what you have undertaken in the past 3 years to maintain/upgrade your professional competence utilising supervision as a student or social worker, either in direct service or in managerial capacity, indicating how you have achieved two of the abovementioned ed ELOs and their AAC. 5.5 RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT 6: RESEARCH (ELO 11) Formulate a problem, goal(s) and objective(s) that merit a quantitative research design and describe how you will go about collecting and presenting the data, (approximately 1500 words). Demonstrate your understanding of quantitative research according to ELO 11 and the AAC.. OR Formulate a problem, goal(s) and objective(s) that merit exploratory, descriptive, qualitative research design and describe how you will go about collecting and presenting data (approximately 1500 words). Demonstrate your understanding of qualitative research according to ELO 11and the AACs. Provide a bibliography of the references used in the essay. 7. PERSONAL INTERVIEW Every applicant must report for a personal interview to the offices of the SACSSP in Pretoria, or venue stipulated by the SACSSP. The interview will be conducted by members of the SACSSP and the Professional board concerned. The purpose of the interview is to meet the applicant in person; to engage in a discussion concerning social work issues and to clarify any issues that may have arisen throughout the application process. The interview will last approximately 60 90 minutes. 8. OUTCOME OF THE APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION The SACSSP will notify the applicant in writing of the outcome of application for the registration as soon as possible after the personal interview. Should the applicant be successful, the SACSSP will guide the person through the process of formal registration and payment of annual fees. In the event that the application is not successful, the SACSSP will give directions about the process that needs to be followed to re-apply for registration. oo000ooo 8