Studenti Harsien Socjali (SHS), the student organisation representing the Social Work and Social Policy students at the University of Malta, said that it welcomes the Government's decision to amend the Social Work Profession Act.

During the last few days, several amendments to the Social Work Profession Act were being debated in Parliament at the Second Reading stage.

SHS said that it is concerned over the lack of consultation between the Ministry of Family and Social Solidarity and all relevant stakeholders. "We find it to be most unfair that such important amendments were not discussed with MASW and especially the Department of Social Work and SHS, since both entities represent prospective social workers."

SHS has appealed to the Maltese Government to reconsider its position on some of the amendments in relation to the warranting process in the social work profession. "It is being proposed that after social workers graduate, social work students have to work for two years with a Governmental social work agency."

The student organisation added that this proposed system "will undermine the autonomy of the social work profession as well as NGOs by limiting the choice of employment to social work graduates and prospective social workers."

"As a result of this, Non-Governmental Organisations would be affected negatively by the implementation of this measure. With the proposed amendments, NGOs which are providing services within communities will have greater difficulty in employing social workers to provide their service. This situation will affect the service users both via a decrease in service quality and increase the work-load of every social worker who at present is working with an NGO."

SHS also said that it is worried that the proposed system does not give any assurances whether all social work graduates will be absorbed within a Governmental social work agency once they complete their studies. "SHS deems all forms of employment, both with Government and NGOs, as valid practices to pursue one's warrant so long as the service user receives high quality service and social workers have the highest standards and supervision as possible."

It said that it is also concerned whether proposed amendments will affect student's quality of course placements. "Due to an increased work-load on social workers in social work agencies, students will be given less supervision and guidance causing a decreased learning experience for students."

"SHS feels the proposed amendments are a Government's reaction to the low employment rate of social work graduates within Governmental social work agencies. We encourage the Government to carry out a study what is causing this low employment rate and how can this be improved."

The student organisation has proposed some ideas for the current system:

1. Introduce established ratios for the number of unwarranted social workers that should be supervised by warranted social workers for both governmental and non-governmental agencies.

2. Enhance monitoring procedures for social workers to gain their warrant.

SHS appealed to the Government to consult with all stakeholders in the social work profession, including the Department of Social Work and Social Policy and SHS before the current debate in Parliament to amend the Social Work Profession Act. "This should be done until a consensus is reached, so as to safeguard the interests of social work students, professionals and the service users."

In conclusion the SHS said that it will remain open for discussing with the Government the necessary amendments to the Social Work Profession Act.

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