Disappointment that the Select Committee has not recommend changes in key areas of the Bill on scope of practice for social work was the first reaction from social workers’ organisations to the report on the Social Workers Registration Amendment Bill released on 19th April. Both the Association of Social Workers  and the Public Service Association   challenged the Committee’s conclusion that it is too hard to define a scope of practice for social work.

The report on the Bill was released just before Kete Kupu was finalised, so we are not able to include any detailed analysis of proposed changes. In March Trevor McGlinchey and Sonia Scott from NZCCSS spoke to the Social Services and Community Select Committee  in support of our submission on the Social Workers Registration Bill. They told the Committee our concern that the Bill is fatally flawed and recommended that it not proceed further in its current form. There is wide concern among the community organisations that are not funded to meet the implementation costs that are required to support mandatory registration.

The Bill will now go back to be further debated in Parliament and NZCCSS and other organisations impacted by the proposed changes to social work will be seeking further engagement about the final form of the legislation.

Please contact get in touch with us at NZCCSS if you wish to know more about this important legislation and its implications.