Need for licensing of social workers highlighted at WSWD event

Mar 21, 2018 News

As hundreds around the globe stopped to observe World Social Work Day, (WSWD) yesterday, officials of the Ministry of Social Protection at a locally organised event took the time to reflect on the evolvement of the profession in Guyana.

Scores from across the nation gathered at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston to salute those in the field of Social Work.

According to International Federation of Social Workers, WSWD is a key day in the year that social workers worldwide stand together to celebrate the achievements of the profession and take the theme message into their communities, workplaces and to their governments to raise awareness of the social work contributions and need for further action.
This year, WSWD highlights ‘Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability.”
As such, social workers from various regions across the nation gathered at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston to participate in a staff luncheon and to salute those in the field of work.
During his speech, Arnold Mickle of the Guyana Association of Professional Social Workers, (GAPSW) stressed on making social work a more respected and recognised profession locally.
Mickle noted that it is time that for the profession of social work to be treated in the manner of those in medical and legal fields.
“We are professionals and we should be seen as such… In the same manner in which lawyers and doctors had to study to become qualified, social workers have to study, so we should be proud of our profession,” he said.
As part of efforts towards ensuring that the social worker has the necessary framework for professionalism, Mickle lobbied for those employed in the field to be licensed. An issue, he said, that should have been addressed years ago.
The GAPSW representative noted further that though hundreds of social workers graduate from the University of Guyana every year, “still we do not have the necessary systems in place for the licensing of social workers.”
Meanwhile in her remarks, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Protection Lorene Baird noted that WSWD is observed to showcase the valuable contribution of those in the field of work.
“The execution of the mandate is therefore heavily dependent on human resources. This puts social workers at the core of its resolve. Specifically, it entails leveraging the values and tools of social work to enable individuals to strive and contribute to building equitable, inclusive and sustainable communities at the local, national and global levels,” Baird said.
In the same vein, Deputy Director of the Social Services Department, Abike Benjamin-Samuels applauded the workers for the vital role they play in catering to the needs of persons in society.
“As biased as this may sound, I really do not know of any other profession that is as involved in addressing the needs of human beings, across the life cycle, in so many diverse ways as social workers do,” Benjamin-Samuels noted.
She noted that the occasion is an opportunity to honour and recognise outstanding employees who performed commendably over the years.
As such, several persons attached to the Women Affairs Bureau, Social Security, and Chief Probation Officer, were presented with awards for the various levels of contributions and accomplishment to social work. (Rehanna Ramsay)

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