Not enough CYF Social Workers registered

Not enough social workers working for Child Youth and Family are registered, says National’s Associate Welfare spokeswoman, Anne Tolley.

“Registration of CYF social workers with the Social Workers Registration Board is well behind forecasts.”

Figures obtained by Mrs Tolley show just 30% of CYF field social workers are registered with the board.

“CYF has failed to deliver on the Government’s promise that ‘New Zealanders are entitled to know that social workers are competent and practice safely, that poor social work will not be tolerated, and that people will be held accountable in this profession’”, says Mrs Tolley.

“New Zealanders must have confidence that frontline social workers are qualified to assess and protect our most vulnerable children.

“Ruth Dyson needs to ask herself why more CYF workers are not getting registered.

“The Social Workers Registration Board itself was counting on 660 registrations just to pay the bills last year. They fell short by 300 and the Government had to bail them out with an extra $200 thousand in grants.

“The Labour Government is failing the public and its own staff by not keeping their promises to professionalise social workers.”

Ends

Attached: Parliamentary Question 19514 (2006)

19514 (2006). Anne Tolley to the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (07 Dec 2006): What percentage of all CYF social workers are currently registered with the Social Workers Registration Board, broken down by classification of social worker?

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