Consultations underway for regularisation of social work practice

Aug 03, 2016 News

HOD Sociology Paulette Henry speaking at a recent press briefing on the topic.

The Ministry of Social Protection is seeking to enhance the standards of social work in Guyana, through a series of consultations aimed at developing professional guidelines for conduct within the field of work.
According to organiser of the programme and Head of the Department (HOD) for Sociology at the University of Guyana, (UG) Paulette Henry, the process has been set in motion towards realizing the codes of conduct to govern the profession.
Henry reiterated that since “social work is a critical profession in Guyana’s social landscape there is need for guidelines for the profession.
She opined that for too long the landscape for social work has been unregulated adding that “in the world the different professions are guided by principles and rules, social work is no different. “
The University HOD said that concept of developing a code of conduct for social workers derived from a meeting with the Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence.
Henry said that as a result of the discussions with the Minister, the University of Guyana pledged support to continuous education and enhancement of social work in Guyana.
“We are seeking to determine from social workers which set of framework would be suitable for Guyana.”
Based on the discussions, Henry said that benchmarks will be developed as part of realizing the goal.
The panel is expected to also establish a commission for which social workers will be held accountable.
“So that once they are violated the appropriate sanctions will be enforced. The whole idea is to provide structure for the profession, “Henry added.
The organizer is optimistic that the project will be in the final stage in time for the reading of the next budget.
A number of agencies have pledged their support to the project. These include University of Guyana, the Ministry of Social Protection, the Guyana Association of Professional Social Workers (GAPSW) and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, (UNICEF) Childcare professionals and other stakeholders.
The panel has since participated in the inaugural two- day conference on ‘Standards for Professional Social Work Practices.
This is expected to yield fruits towards forming a set of rules outlining the social norms and rules and responsibilities and proper practices for an individual employed in the field of social work, set to materialize within a few months.
The conference was hosted at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara last month.
During the conference Minister Lawrence had announced Government‘s plan to regularize and standardize social work practice in Guyana.
Minister Lawrence said that the world has been advancing by leaps and bounds, technologically, socially and otherwise, and it is only fitting that we in Guyana make efforts to catch-up and keep abreast with global standards and practices. This is the goal that the Ministry has envisioned for Guyana’s professional social workers and social work practice in our country, hence the timely hosting of this important conference,”
Minister Lawrence noted that social workers represent a substantial percentage of the Ministry’s workforce force; therefore the standardisation of the practice is critical to the smooth running, and provision of quality social services to Guyanese.
She reiterated that optimising the performance of social workers calls for modern enhanced standardisation, so that the entire workforce will be au fait with the requirements and expectations which are in keeping with the vision of quality social work practice.
“Our advocacy for standardisation sets the stage for high professional competence and ethnical practices, it is the launching pad from which we can craft a code of conduct and ethics which will hold all stakeholders accountable.
“Further, we can visualise, in the not too distant future the grating of licences for our social work practice,” she added.

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