1 September 2016

Family Works Northern endorses need for qualified social workers

Social services provider Family Works Northern welcomes plans by the Social Development Minister, Anne Tolley, to make sure all social workers are qualified and registered.

Figures released this week show that of the country’s more than 18,000 social workers, about 12,000 are not registered and more than 5000 do not have a post-school qualification.

Family Works Northern General Manager Laurie Pedlar said that all Family Works practitioners, including social workers in schools, counsellors and family workers have a qualification recognised by the appropriate professional body.

“All of our team members have a diploma or undergraduate degree and some have postgraduate qualifications,” she said.

Family Works Northern employs 84 social workers throughout the upper North Island, 79 percent of whom are registered, up from 58 percent just over a year ago. Ms Pedlar said all those currently employed are on the path to registration and Family Works Northern will only employ those who are qualified and eligible for registration.

Ms Pedlar said Family Works owed it to the families they support to have qualified, well-trained staff who are passionate about the work they do for vulnerable families, many of whom are coping with complex difficulties.

“Our team members are very dedicated to working with families. Many of our social workers have come to this profession because they are passionate about providing this service for others. Their personal commitment adds to their strengths. For us, it’s about employing dedicated individuals who are educated, trained and qualified to make a real difference for at-risk children and families.”

Ms Pedlar said Family Works Northern supports Ms Tolley’s proposal to require all social workers to have a university-level qualification and be registered.

“Personally I think mandatory registration is a really good thing and at Family Works we are really clear about the expectations and what that means.”

ENDS

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