Registration of social workers 1/13

Steve Maharey Social Services and Employment

Hon Steve Maharey
Minister Of Social Services and
Employment

04 September 2001

Registration of social workers
in everyone's best interest

The Government's decisions on industry training are in line with the
consensus reached at the recent Catching the Knowledge Wave conference, says
Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey.

The registration of social workers will enhance the profession and help to
protect New Zealanders from poor social work practice that can have devastating
consequences, says the Minister of Social Services Steve Maharey.

Mr Maharey has introduced the Social Workers Registration Bill to Parliament
which provides a framework for the registration of social workers and puts in
place a number of measures designed to protect the safety and well being of all
New Zealanders from poor social work practice.

Mr Maharey said the bill fulfilled a Labour party manifesto commitment to
establish a system of professional registration for public and private sector
social workers.

"Social worker registration is a key step in building public confidence in
the profession. The new legislation is a result of comprehensive consultation
with the social and health sectors.

"Under the Bill, registration will be based on a person's competence and
fitness to practice social work. To become registered, social workers will
require an educational qualification and practice experience followed by an
assessment of competence. They will be made accountable through the
establishment of a complaints and disciplinary process.

"A Social Workers Registration Board will be set up to administer the new
system and will determine professional standards for social workers. In
particular it will be responsible for:

  • registering social workers by assessing their competence;
  • establishing and maintaining a code of conduct for registered social
    workers;
  • setting minimum requirements for educational qualifications for registered
    social workers;
  • promoting the benefits of registration to Government departments, other
    crown agencies, others who employ social workers as well as the public and
    social workers themselves; and,
  • promoting high standards of practice and professional conduct among
    registered social workers and the employers of social workers.

"The Bill also establishes a Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal to
administer the complaints process and exercise disciplinary powers over
registered social workers.

"While the Bill will not prevent people from practising social work,
uncertified practitioners will not be able to call themselves a 'Registered
Social Worker'.

"It is anticipated that some social workers will be immediately eligible for
registration, while others will have to work towards this goal. The Bill allows
for provisional registration, which will be limited to five years per social
worker.

"The bill will go a long way to ensuring that social workers are competent,
accountable and practising safely while protecting New Zealanders from the
consequences of poor social work," concluded Mr Maharey.

Contact: Michael Gibbs, Press Secretary, (04) 471 9154 or (021) 270 9115,
e-mail: michael.gibbs@parliament.govt.nz.