Support of Green Paper for Vulnerable Children

Social Workers Registration Board Supports Green Paper for Vulnerable Children

27 July 2011

Ms Toni Hocquard, Chairperson of the Social Workers Registration Board welcomes the release today of the Green Paper on Vulnerable Children by the Minister for Social Development, Paula Bennett.

The Social Workers Registration Board has as its main purpose to ensure the protection of the public, especially vulnerable children, when they receive social work services and to safeguard them from any harm which may result from poor social work practice.

New Zealand is one of the few countries however where social worker registration is still voluntary and under the current voluntary arrangement, people can still practise using the title of social worker without being registered.

“It is essential that the most vulnerable in our society get high quality care from a registered professional who meets the standards of competent practice” said Ms Hocquard. “A key message in the Green Paper is that Government could improve how services are delivered so they are more accessible, appropriate and effective for vulnerable children, and their families and Whanau. The Social Workers Registration Board supports this initiative and believes that mandatory registration would ensure minimum standards are adhered to in social work practice and delivery.”

Mandatory registration would require all social workers to adhere to a code of conduct, hold an annual practising certificate and a valid competence assessment certificate, and undertake continuing professional development.

“The Board is becoming increasingly concerned about the number of unqualified people currently offering social work services to vulnerable children and their families. Many of these individuals are not registered social workers and although well meaning they are not able to be held accountable for their actions and potentially undermine the reputation of the many qualified and competent Registered Social Workers practising in New Zealand” said Ms Hocquard.

“It is the Social Workers Registration Board’s aim that all social workers in New Zealand should be registered to protect the safety of vulnerable members of the public by ensuring that social workers are competent to practise and are held accountable for the way in which they practise by an independent Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal” said Ms Hocquard.

The Board is currently collating responses to a discussion document on whether the current voluntary registration under the Social Workers Registration Act 2003 is meeting the purpose of protecting the public by ensuring that social workers are competent and accountable for the way in which they practise and will make this information available to the Minister.

“The Board has created a framework for the registration of social workers that has been accepted by the majority of the profession but the time has come for the issue of mandatory registration of social workers to be discussed by all New Zealanders and the Green Paper provides a further opportunity to comment on this and other important issues to ensure every child thrives, belongs and achieves.”

Download the Mandatory Social Worker Registration Discussion paper from www.swrb.govt.nz.

ENDS

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