Social workers to bring their ‘A’ game
– modern enhanced standardisation to optimise performance of social workers
– initiative to regularise social work practice in Guyana
– comprehensive standards to provide quality services to citizens
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, March 20, 2019
The Social Work Practice Standard was launched to optimise the performance of social workers. It will also modernise the standards that will enable the workforce to be familiar with the requirements and expectations in keeping with the vision of quality social work practice.
The Social Work Practice Standard was presented to three social work agencies at a formal ceremony at the Marriott Hotel on March 19 by the Director of Social Services, Wentworth Tanner.
He noted the need for consistency in the practice of social work and, as such, the Ministry of Social Protection is improving its services offered to citizens.
“We took a decision to develop standards by which all social workers will be guided and also be held accountable… Including, in those standards also is a need for continuous learning and for officers to continually upgrade their qualifications and do a refresher course to ensure that they are on top of their game when interacting with the public.”
According to Tanner, the Social Work Practice Standards will entail the core values of respect for clients and colleagues, integrity when handling clients’ information and excellence when moving up the ladder to professional success.
He further highlighted that an Act will be established to guide social workers and educate them to resolve challenges better. The act will “ensure that persons cannot practise if they are not abiding by the guidelines set out in the social work practice standards.” He disclosed that the ministry is pushing for the licensing of social workers.
The Ministry of Social Protection first moved to regularise the social work practice in 2016 under Minister Volda Lawrence who led the ministry at the time. The ministry had collaborated with the University of Guyana, the Guyana Association of Professional Social Workers (GAPSW) and donor partner the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to create the now-launched Social Work Practice Standards.
Ayana George.
Images: Jules Gibson.