The content of social work practice must be consistent with the framework of standards for social work professional competence.

(Chinhphu.vn) - The Ministry of Health is seeking public opinions on the draft Circular guiding the practice of social work.

Social work practice time for university degree or higher is from 12 months

This draft Circular proposes regulations on the content and organization of social work practice to grant social work practice registration certificates for social workers; applicable to agencies, organizations and individuals involved in the practice to grant social work practice registration certificates.

According to the draft, social work practice is carried out at units and establishments that provide social work services (social assistance facilities, drug rehabilitation facilities, medical facilities, educational facilities and other facilities as prescribed by law) with a scope of professional activities appropriate to the practice content (called social work practice facilities).

The content of social work practice must be consistent with the framework of social work professional competency standards issued with this Circular.

The practitioner directly performs professional and technical social work activities for the subject under the supervision of the practice instructor (The practice instructor must meet the conditions specified in Clause 3, Article 36 of Decree No. 110/2024/ND-CP).

The practitioner must strictly follow the instructions of the practice instructor. The practitioner must ensure that the practice content is fully completed and the practice time is as prescribed.

The assignment of practice instructors must ensure appropriateness in terms of expertise and capacity of the practice instructors.

Framework of content and time for social work practice

The draft clearly states that the content of social work practice is based on the framework of social work professional competency standards specified in Appendix 1 issued with this Circular, including:

a) Social work ethics;

b) Competence and professional qualifications in social work;

c) Practical skills in social work;

d) Communication skills, resource mobilization, and connection to implement social work activities;

d) Coordinate implementation of social work activities.

The total time spent practicing social work is as follows:

Internship time for university degree or higher is 12 months.

Internship time for college level or higher is 9 months.

Practice time for intermediate level and above is from 6 months.

During the social work practice, the practitioner is trained in legal regulations on social work, social security, social work ethics, communication skills and behavior of social workers with a total duration of 10 sessions (each session has 4 periods). Training time is included in the total time of social work practice.

Build a practice guidance plan

According to the draft, every year, based on the needs of those needing practical guidance and the ability to receive practitioners, social work practice facilities must develop a Practice Guidance Plan before January 15 of each year.

According to Decree 110/2024/ND-CP, social work is an activity to support individuals, groups, families and communities to solve social problems.

Social work practice is professional activities, directly performing specialized expertise (prevention, intervention, therapy, care, rehabilitation, development support, counseling, consultation, psychological support for social work subjects) by social workers who are granted a certificate of registration to practice social work by a competent authority.

A certificate of registration to practice social work is a document issued by a competent state agency to a person who is eligible to register to practice social work according to regulations.

The practice guidance plan includes the number of practitioners that the facility can accept in a year; the number and list of practice instructors; and practice guidance cooperation contract (if any).

In case a social work practice facility does not have all the required practice contents according to regulations, the social work practice facility is allowed to sign a cooperation contract with another social work practice facility according to needs.

Social work practice establishments shall submit the annual Social Work Practice Guidance Plan to the Department of Health before February 1st of each year according to the management hierarchy for synthesis, monitoring and management of practice guidance activities. At the same time, social work practice establishments must publicly post it on the electronic information page of that establishment (if any).

The Department of Health synthesizes the Practice Guidance Plan of social work practice facilities under its management authority, posts information on the Electronic Information Portal of the Provincial People's Committee and the Electronic Information Page of the Department of Health.

Monitor, manage and evaluate the practice process

Social work practice facilities must assign people with professional activities in the field of social work to monitor, supervise and manage the practice guidance activities of their facility.

The practice instructor shall evaluate and comment on the practitioner's practice process according to the content specified in Appendix 2 issued with this Circular. The evaluation and comment must be carried out immediately after the practitioner completes each practice content. The practice instructor must comment on the content of the content he guides.

Based on the Social Work Practice Review Form of the practice instructor, the head of the unit or social work practice facility shall issue a Certificate of Practice Confirmation according to Form No. 5 specified in the Appendix issued with Decree No. 110/2024/ND-CP.

The Ministry of Health is seeking comments on this draft on the Ministry's Information Portal.

Minh Hien

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/noi-dung-thuc-hanh-cong-toc-xa-hoi-phai-phu-hop-voi-khung-chuan-nang-luc-nghe-nghiep-cong-tac-xa-hoi-102251202111654774.htm