Not enough CYF Social Workers registered
Not enough social workers working for Child Youth and Family are registered, says National’s Associate Welfare
spokeswoman, Anne Tolley.
“Registration of CYF social workers with the Social Workers Registration Board is well behind forecasts.”
Figures obtained by Mrs Tolley show just 30% of CYF field social workers are registered with the board.
“CYF has failed to deliver on the Government’s promise that ‘New Zealanders are entitled to know that social workers are
competent and practice safely, that poor social work will not be tolerated, and that people will be held accountable in
this profession’”, says Mrs Tolley.
“New Zealanders must have confidence that frontline social workers are qualified to assess and protect our most
vulnerable children.
“Ruth Dyson needs to ask herself why more CYF workers are not getting registered.
“The Social Workers Registration Board itself was counting on 660 registrations just to pay the bills last year. They
fell short by 300 and the Government had to bail them out with an extra $200 thousand in grants.
“The Labour Government is failing the public and its own staff by not keeping their promises to professionalise social
workers.”
Ends
Attached: Parliamentary Question 19514 (2006)
19514 (2006). Anne Tolley to the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (07 Dec 2006): What percentage
of all CYF social workers are currently registered with the Social Workers Registration Board, broken down by
classification of social worker?
Hon Ruth Dyson (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment) replied: I am advised that as at the end of
October 2006 there were 1,283 permanent social workers employed by Child, Youth and Family in the Field Social Work
Line, residences and adoptions, of which 383 (30 percent) were registered with the Social Workers Registration Board.
As at the end of October 2006, 24 percent of Child, Youth and Family social workers were registered with the Board, 53
percent of Child, Youth and Family senior practitioners were registered, and 40 percent of Child, Youth and Family
supervisors were registered.
In addition to the above, Child, Youth and Family has a further 84 registered social workers who are employed in areas
such as the Chief Social Workers Office, social work training, social work quality assurance and service development.
I am advised that Child, Youth and Family does not forecast for the registration of supervisors.
This is also my reply to written parliamentary questions 19515 and 19516 (2006).