Development of Social Development of Social Work in Viet NamWork in Viet Nam

Le Hong LoanLe Hong Loan

Chief of Child Protection Section Chief of Child Protection Section

UNICEF Viet NamUNICEF Viet Nam

Part 1Roles and tasks of

social workers

Development of social work in Development of social work in the worldthe world

• Social work has developed in the world as a profession that responds to social problems by assisting individuals, families, social groups, communities and social system to resolve such problems and promote social well-being

• Social work has come into being as a result of social needs in the context of industrialization and modernization with the aim of solving increasingly complicated social problems

• Social work was first known in the middle of the 19th century

• By 2009, 84 countries are members of the International Federation of Social Workers

Definition of social workDefinition of social work

The International Federation of Social Workers and International Association of Schools of Social Work defines social work as follows:“The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are foundational to social work”

Social work in international Social work in international contextcontext

• Social work all over the world is based on one common definition, common basic goals and values.

• Each country, however, has it own approach, which reflects its level and stage of development, as well as its culture.

• While the U.S, Australia and Scandinavian countries, with advanced social welfare systems, emphasize interaction with individuals, other countries such as the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, East and South African countries focus on social development.

Elements of professional social Elements of professional social workwork

Countries with professional social work possess the following elements:– Legal framework which regulates functions,

tasks, obligations and responsibilities of social workers

– Education and training system– Job code, standards of professional titles, and

salary scale– Association of social workers

Some countries even develop:– Standards of social work as a profession– Code of ethics of social worker

Purposes of social work

• The purposes of social work are to intervene the lives of individuals, families, groups, communities and social systems in order to help them achieve social changes and to strengthen social security.

• Users of social work services may include:– individuals;– families;– groups (for example, people who share a

common need or problem);– communities;– social systems.

Roles of social workers (1)Roles of social workers (1)

• Social work may play different roles and functions, depending on the circumstances and beneficiaries identified

• Individuals– Counselor– Case manager

• Families– Case manager– Family therapist

• Groups – Facilitator– Organizer– Mediator

Roles of social workersRoles of social workers(2)

• Communities – Organizer– Facilitator– Mediator– Advocate– Researcher– Mobilizer

• Organizations– Manager/supervisor/consultant– Counsellor/mediator for staff

• Research and policy development– Researcher– Policy developer– Policy advisor– Advocate

Where do social workers work?Where do social workers work?

• Government agencies at all levels• In the community and service delivery agencies• In residential settings: social protection centers,

reform schools, detention centers• Social organizations• NGOs

In which fields do social In which fields do social workers work?workers work?

• Child protection• Juvenile Justice• Support problematic families in conflicts, crisis• Social protection for the elderly• Social protection for the people with disability• Community development• Education• Health, including mental health• Prevention of social evils

Part 2Social work in Viet

Nam

The needs for social work in The needs for social work in Viet NamViet Nam

• Rapid socio-economic changes as a results of the renovation process, modernization and industrialization

• Widening gaps between the rich and the poor• Increasing disparity • Social problems and needs derived from changes in family and

community relations, impacts of industrialization and modernization

• Poverty reduction remains an important issue• Rural-urban migration • Emerging social issues such as social evils, prostitution, drug

abuse, crimes• Negative impacts of HIV/AIDS • Increased number of children in need of special protection• Heavier learning pressure causing stress upon pupils and students• Increased rate of divorce and less parental attention and care • The needs for psycho-social support and mental health on the rise• Increased number of elderly (7.5 million)• Big number of people with disability (5.3 million)

Recommendations on professionnalisation of social work in Viet Nam

Establish Vietnamese Association of Social Workers accession to the International Federation of Social Workers and InternationalAssociation of School of Social Work

Train professional social workers as human resource development (at graduate and post-graduate levels)

Create legal framework that regulates the roles, power, obligations and responsibilities of social workers

Vocational training in the forms of credited programs

Recognize social work as a profession with job code, title, professional standards, and salary scale

Develop networks of social workers; and social work service system

Social work service system in the Government Social work service system in the Government

MOET MOH MOLISA MPS Court Mass organizations

Social work service centers

Social protection centers (01,05, 06)

Social house

Professional social workers/para-professional social workers

Social work service center

Social ProtectionCenter

High schools, colleges, universities

Trường học

Hospitals

Hospital/Health center

Commune health clinic

Schools

Reform school

Temporary detention

Provincial courts

District courts

Mass organizations

Mass organizations

Commune Health workers/collaborators

Social collaborators

Sub-organizations

Mass organizations

MOJ

DOJ

District Office of Justice

Commune Justice Officer

Recruitment and human resources Recruitment and human resources structure (1)structure (1)

• Mainly focus on development of social workers and social work services in social areas under the management of MOLISA

• Develop the network of social workers in mass organizations such as Women Union, Youth Union…and other social organizations…

• In the middle term, social workers should be recruited for hospitals and health settings;

• The next step is to development the contingent of social workers for schools and other organizations

• Vocational structure should have both professional and para-professional social workers

Recruitment and human resources Recruitment and human resources structure (2)structure (2)

Some recommendations on developments of social workers:• A system of 150,000 collaborators at commune levels-> establish the very first social

workers;• At commune level, the ratio of one para-professional social worker/2,000 people is

helpful to support collaborators and to tackle complicated cases: 43,000; • 6 professional and specialized social workers, 2 out of 6 have post graduate degrees to

work at relevant agencies at district levels, to support commune workers and carry out complex tasks;

• 4 social workers, 2 out of 4 have post graduate degrees to work at relevant agencies at provincial levels, to support district workers and participate into policy and search activities;

• On average, each center or social protection center has 3 social workers and 6 trained para-professional social workers;

• 3 specialized and trained social workers with post graduate degrees work in relevant departments, agencies of different ministries will be in charge of policy making and research activities;

• All departments/faculties in universities have training programs on professional social work with 50% of their staff with post graduate degrees;

• A large number of social workers will be recruited to work other settings such as hospitals, health units (each hospital or big health setting has one social worker)

Targets for 2015Targets for 2015Level Number Organisations Standard Total

Commune/ward 11,000 DOLISA, mass organisations Para-professional 22,000

District 625 DOLISA, mass organisations (4 per district)

Professional 2,500

Post-professional 1,250

Province 63 DOLISA, mass organisations, and relevant departments such as Health, Justice, Education….

(14 per province/city)

Professional - 756

Post-professional 126

Central 1 MOLISA Professional 10

Post-professional 24

Universities 35 Teaching BA program Professional 225

Post-professional 200

Social Protection Center 400 SPC, 05, 06 centers Professional 1,200

Post-professional 2,400

Others N/A NGOs, hospitals, schools, universities Professional 400

Post-professional 40

Recruitment and human resources Recruitment and human resources structure (3)structure (3)

• The number of professional social workers is 8,700 (1 social worker/10,000 people)

• With the vision to further development and possible shortfalls of human resources (for example retirement), it is important to increase the number of professional social workers to 12,000 in 2020

• The number of para-professional social workers in 2015 is expected to reach 22,000 and 50,000 in 2020) (1 professional social worker/2,000 people)

• 150,000 collaborators at commune levels receive short term training courses

Social work education and Social work education and trainingtraining

Professional type Educational level

Certificate Short-term course

Para-professional Vocational training program (certificate accrued training)

College diploma

Professional Bachelors degree

Post-professional Continuing specialised professional education(in-service short courses)

Higher degrees – masters and doctorates

Thank you for your attention!