Asenati Lole-Taylor MP
Spokesperson for Social Policy
13 March 2013

Mandatory Registration Of Social Workers Gains Support

New Zealand First is renewing calls for the Government to implement the mandatory registration of social workers so their often vulnerable clients know who they are dealing with.

The Social Workers Registration Board has acknowledged concerns that social workers do not have to be registered, and supports calls for mandatory registration.

Social Policy spokesperson Asenati Lole-Taylor says while most social workers are hard-working and responsible, some are quite the opposite.

“New Zealand First’s position is that the mandatory registration of social workers would allow for better transparency and accountability, and help make vulnerable clients safer.

“The board itself acknowledged the risks associated with operators calling themselves social workers when they don’t hold relevant qualifications.”

Mrs Lole-Taylor says the current voluntary registration of social workers makes it difficult for the board to plan and budget for the future.

“Whichever way you look at it, all social workers should be registered.

“It is the right thing to do and should be implemented by the Government as soon as possible.”

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>