|
New Criteria for Conversion from Registered Social Service Practitioner (RSSP) to Registered Social Worker (RSW)
Currently, RSSPs may convert to RSWs immediately upon obtaining a recognised social work degree or graduate diploma as long as they have 1,000 supervised practice hours from a qualified supervisor before, during and/or after their studies. A qualified supervisor is defined as someone who has a recognised social work qualification and at least 3 years of post-qualification social work experience.
Under the new criteria, RSSPs who are admitted to social work programmes which commence from July 2013 onwards will not be able to convert to RSWs immediately. They will be required to practise social work locally for at least one year after obtaining the qualification. In addition, the 1,000 supervised practice hours from a qualified supervisor must be obtained during and/or after attaining the qualification. This also means that they will have to achieve at least 3 years of social work experience after graduation before they can qualify as a supervisor under the supervised practice hours during employment.
More details are available in a circular sent to all RSSPs which may be accessed here.
Cessation of Accreditation of Social Service Practitioners wef 1 July 2012
The accreditation of social service practitioners as a Registered Social Service Practitioner (RSSP) has ceased with effect from 1 July 2012. Those who are already accredited may continue to renew their RSSP status provided they meet the CPE requirements. All social service practitioners are encouraged to pursue a social work qualification to be accredited as a Registered Social Worker.
Number of Accredited Professionals
More than 1,600 social workers and social service practitioners have applied for accreditation. As at 15 May 2013, there were 183 Registered Social Workers-Provisional (RSW-P) and 864 Registered Social Workers (RSW). To date, 355 Registered Social Service Practitioners (RSSP) remain on the register.
|
