SWRB Supports Opposition to Mental Health Workers being Named

SWRB MEDIA RELEASE

July 9, 2008

SWRB Supports Opposition to Mental Health Workers being Named

The Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) says that from its experience naming mental health workers on websites will not benefit either the complainants or the profession as a whole.

“Child Youth and Family social workers suffered this type of attack on websites in the past but not one of the complainants were willing to follow up the accusations with a complaint to the SWRB Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal” says SWRB Chief Executive Sean McKinley.

The website of an Auckland-based counsellor that is planning to name mental health workers if, in his view, they have breached the Health and Disability Commissioners' code of conduct is unprofessional and will not provide any support to complainants.

"The SWRB agrees with the Health and Disability Commissioner, the PSA and the Mental Health Commission, that this type of 'scapegoating' is unnecessary as there are systems in place to deal with complaints about mental health workers just as there was for social workers when they were unjustifiably attacked," says Sean McKinley.

"Health and social care providers are finding it hard to recruit and retain properly trained and qualified workers and subjecting them to this form of targeting only works to undermine the good work that thousands of professionals undertake on a daily basis."

"The SWRB opposed this practice when social workers were targeted and we oppose it now. Individuals with justifiable complaints should make use of the independent complaint processes available to them as these processes hold professionals accountable for their practise and provides public confidence," says Sean McKinley.

ENDS

© Scoop Media