Law Reform
Law Reform
Law Reform
The Social Service Professions Act (No. 110 of 1978) regulates professional practice and establishes the South African Council for Social Service Professionals (Council). This Act is outdated and needs to be replaced. A Social Service Professions Bill was drafted in 2008, with the purpose to “advance social justice by promoting developmental social services”. It contained six chapters that define the categories of practitioners that are to be registered, and dealt with other matters such the requirements for registration, and disciplinary procedures. After input by professional groups, the Bill was redrafted and the November 2008 version was renamed the “Social Service Professions and Occupations Bill”. Before the draft Bill was sent to Cabinet for approval, the Department of Social Development announced in 2010 that the Bill was on hold until 2014 to allow for the development of a policy on the vision and intend of the legislation.
The Social Service Professions Act (No. 110 of 1978) regulates professional practice and establishes the South African Council for Social Service Professionals (Council). This Act is outdated and needs to be replaced. A Social Service Professions Bill was drafted in 2008, with the purpose to “advance social justice by promoting developmental social services”. It contained six chapters that define the categories of practitioners that are to be registered, and dealt with other matters such the requirements for registration, and disciplinary procedures. After input by professional groups, the Bill was redrafted and the November 2008 version was renamed the “Social Service Professions and Occupations Bill”. Before the draft Bill was sent to Cabinet for approval, the Department of Social Development announced in 2010 that the Bill was on hold until 2014 to allow for the development of a policy on the vision and intend of the legislation.
Law Reform
Bills & Rights
The Social Service Professions Act (No. 110 of 1978) regulates professional practice and establishes the South African Council for Social Service Professionals (Council). This Act is outdated and needs to be replaced. A Social Service Professions Bill was drafted in 2008, with the purpose to “advance social justice by promoting developmental social services”. It contained six chapters that define the categories of practitioners that are to be registered, and dealt with other matters such the requirements for registration, and disciplinary procedures. After input by professional groups, the Bill was redrafted and the November 2008 version was renamed the “Social Service Professions and Occupations Bill”. Before the draft Bill was sent to Cabinet for approval, the Department of Social Development announced in 2010 that the Bill was on hold until 2014 to allow for the development of a policy on the vision and intend of the legislation.
About the Advocacy Network
A group of service providers – Child-line, Child Welfare South Africa, the Disabled Children’s Action Group, the National Alliance for Child and Youth Care Workers, the National Early Childhood Development Alliance and the National Welfare Forum – in 2008 recognized that it was essential for social service practitioners to engage with the draft Social Service Professions Bill to advocate for improvements. Based on their experiences in the Children’s Bill campaign, the service providers wanted to harness their collective energies and approached the Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, to co-ordinate the campaign.
As a result, the Social Service Practitioners Advocacy Network was established to:
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promote the participation of social service practitioners in the law-making process;
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strengthen social service practitioners’ networks and ensure that they have a co-ordinated response to the Social Service Professions Bill; and
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build relationships between social service practitioners, government departments and Parliament.
The network focused on the following activities:
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Circulating discussion documents that explain the content of the Bill and outline possible amendments.
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Hosting workshops to discuss the content of the Bill and plan advocacy activities.
-
Sharing expertise on effective advocacy strategies.
-
Hiring legal experts to ensure that proposed amendments to the Bill are drafted in suitable legal formats.
-
Assisting sector representatives to prepare for and get to public hearings.
-
Monitoring parliamentary deliberations and sharing information on the debates by sending written updates or advising representatives.
Sub-groups for the different social services occupations were established. Each sub-group consisted of a network representative responsible for co-ordinating the advocacy strategy of the sector, and a technical expert who was responsible for drafting the final submission on behalf of the sector. The rest of the sub-group consisted of practitioners in the sector contributed to the advocacy strategies and the submission to Parliament.
Sub-groups for the following occupational groups were established:
About the Advocacy Network
A group of service providers – Child-line, Child Welfare South Africa, the Disabled Children’s Action Group, the National Alliance for Child and Youth Care Workers, the National Early Childhood Development Alliance and the National Welfare Forum – in 2008 recognized that it was essential for social service practitioners to engage with the draft Social Service Professions Bill to advocate for improvements. Based on their experiences in the Children’s Bill campaign, the service providers wanted to harness their collective energies and approached the Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, to co-ordinate the campaign.
As a result, the Social Service Practitioners Advocacy Network was established to:
-
promote the participation of social service practitioners in the law-making process;
-
strengthen social service practitioners’ networks and ensure that they have a co-ordinated response to the Social Service Professions Bill; and
-
build relationships between social service practitioners, government departments and Parliament.
The network focused on the following activities:
-
Circulating discussion documents that explain the content of the Bill and outline possible amendments.
-
Hosting workshops to discuss the content of the Bill and plan advocacy activities.
-
Sharing expertise on effective advocacy strategies.
-
Hiring legal experts to ensure that proposed amendments to the Bill are drafted in suitable legal formats.
-
Assisting sector representatives to prepare for and get to public hearings.
-
Monitoring parliamentary deliberations and sharing information on the debates by sending written updates or advising representatives.
Sub-groups for the different social services occupations were established. Each sub-group consisted of a network representative responsible for co-ordinating the advocacy strategy of the sector, and a technical expert who was responsible for drafting the final submission on behalf of the sector. The rest of the sub-group consisted of practitioners in the sector contributed to the advocacy strategies and the submission to Parliament.
Sub-groups for the following occupational groups were established:
Contact the Network
The network was co-ordinated by a secretariat from the Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town. The secretariat was overseen by a steering committee of representatives from Child Welfare South Africa, Childline, the National Alliance for Street Children, the National Association of Child and Youth Care Workers, the National Early Childhood Development Alliance, and the National Welfare Forum.
Contact the Network
The network was co-ordinated by a secretariat from the Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town. The secretariat was overseen by a steering committee of representatives from Child Welfare South Africa, Childline, the National Alliance for Street Children, the National Association of Child and Youth Care Workers, the National Early Childhood Development Alliance, and the National Welfare Forum.
Latest Developments: Social Service Professions Bill and Policy
The process of developing the Social Service Professions and Occupations Bill was put on hold in 2010. Cabinet has issued a political directive that all new Bills must be supported by a policy document that outlines the vision of the legislation, and its intended impact. This will allow Cabinet and Parliament to engage more effectively with the legislation, and ensures that the law responds to the government’s priorities. Therefore, the Department of Social Development’s strategic plan for 2010 noted that the Bill would not be tabled in the legislature before 2014. This will allow time for the department to develop and consult on a draft policy on the vision and in tension of the new law, where after the Bill will need to be redrafted. SSPAN has mobilised member to make input to the department on the draft Social Service Professions Policy, and to develop a joint advocacy strategy in this regard.
Latest Developments: Social Service Professions Bill and Policy
The process of developing the Social Service Professions and Occupations Bill was put on hold in 2010. Cabinet has issued a political directive that all new Bills must be supported by a policy document that outlines the vision of the legislation, and its intended impact. This will allow Cabinet and Parliament to engage more effectively with the legislation, and ensures that the law responds to the government’s priorities. Therefore, the Department of Social Development’s strategic plan for 2010 noted that the Bill would not be tabled in the legislature before 2014. This will allow time for the department to develop and consult on a draft policy on the vision and in tension of the new law, where after the Bill will need to be redrafted. SSPAN has mobilised member to make input to the department on the draft Social Service Professions Policy, and to develop a joint advocacy strategy in this regard.
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SARAECE is a research association that promotes research and research development in the field of early childhood education (ECE), including teacher education and development for ECE.
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About SARAECE
SARAECE is a research association that promotes research and research development in the field of early childhood education (ECE), including teacher education and development for ECE.