Social work profession board appointed

Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina yesterday appointed the first social work profession board.

Its members are Carmen Zammit, (chairman), Anthony Girard, Maria Zahra, Agnes Bezzina, Pat Bonello, Maureen Cole, Tanya Sciberras Camilleri and secretary Carmen Cocks.

The board was appointed following the enactment of the Social Work Profession Act in November, which made provision for the regulation of the profession and provided Maltese social workers with professional status.

Ms Cristina said the overall purpose of the board was to regulate the practice and eligibility to practise social work in Malta.

Its functions included the establishment and assessment of social work professional development standards.

It also had to recommend to the minister what should be done regarding initial and continuing social work education, proficiency, experience and other qualifications required for a warrant. The board would consider, process and recommend to the minister applications for equivalence and recognition of qualifications in social work.

It would keep an official register of all registered social workers and examine applications for a warrant to practise, making recommendations to the minister on the award or refusal of such a warrant.

Another important role for the board was to recommend to the minister a code of ethics for professional behaviour of social workers.

It also had to inquire into any allegation of professional misconduct, gross negligence or incompetence by a social worker.

Ms Cristina said that although social work was relatively new in Malta, it had been growing at a very fast rate, necessitating the need to regulate.

This not only enhanced the status of social workers, it also ensured that the well being of clients was safeguarded. She said that a similar process was currently being followed through the parliamentary debate on the Bill to regulate the psychology profession.