ENHANCING PROFESSIONALISM IN SOCIAL WORK IN MALAYSIA

(THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPETENCY STANDARDS

AND THE ENACTMENT OF A SOCIAL WORKERS ACT)

RATIONALE

The Department of Social Welfare (DSW) together with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD), the Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are spearheading the introduction of a new era of professionalism in social work premised on competency-based international best practices. This initiative will effect positive social change in the light of complex social problems that have emerged in the context of a globalized and fast-changing world.

The Cabinet approved several proposals by the MWFCD on 23rd April 2010:

i) to establish the National Social Work Competency Standards;

ii) to enact a Social Workers Act to implement the competency standards;

iii) to establish a Social Work Council under the Act to regulate social work
practitioners and educators;

iv) to standardize programmes in social work education in institutions of higher
learning; for the Public Service Department (PSD) to recruit qualified social workers
into the public sector; and

vi)  to upgrade the Social Institute of Malaysia and other accredited training institutions
to offer social  work courses at certificate and diploma levels.

This initiative was undertaken to address the declining capacity of the traditional informal care sector of families, kin and communities to respond to the complex and extended individual and social problems faced within society. The rationale for such a move is strongly supported by the increasing risk of harm towards clients if social workers do not have the appropriate competencies to respond to their needs.

Hence, the professionalization of social work is a milestone event in Malaysia towards putting in place resources within the government apparatus to enable the provision and delivery of efficient, effective and appropriate social services. It reflects the commitment of the Department and the Ministry, MASW and UNICEF, to the care, safety and protection of all citizens, in particular the vulnerable groups such as children, persons with disabilities, older persons, people experiencing physical and mental health problems and other groups open to exploitation and harm.


For more information please click here