The Accreditation System for Social Workers and Social Service Practitioners was launched on 1 April 2009 by the Ministry of Social and Family Development, National Council of Social Service and Singapore Association of Social Workers. The framework is owned by the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
Objectives
The accreditation system was put in place to:
- Ensure professional standards of Social Work practice;
- Promote continuing education and training of Social Workers and Social Service Practitioners;
- Uphold professional conduct and ethics; and
- Improve the professional image of Social Workers and Social Service Practitioners.
Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board
The Accreditation System is overseen by the Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board (SWAAB) which is appointed by the Ministry. It is administered by the Accreditation Secretariat of the Singapore Association of Social Workers.
The terms of reference for the Board are to:
- Review the accreditation framework and the continual professional education guidelines whenever necessary
- Handle appeals / disciplinary / complex cases for accreditation and renewal in a fair and honourable manner and observe the confidentiality of information obtained during the course of discharging SWAAB duties
- Review the mechanisms needed to maintain the professional practice of social workers
- Provide thought and professional leadership on the development of social work and its professionals in Singapore, including policies, professionalisation, training and development and standards of practice
- Provide consultations and inputs to Government on issues affecting the profession and initiatives targeted at the professionalisation of social workers and social work associates
The Board comprises 15 members as follows:
Chair:
Ms Long Chey May
Director-General of Social Welfare, Director-General of
Professional Services, and
Chief Social Worker, Professional Services
Ministry of Social and Family Development
Adviser:
Ms Ang Bee Lian
Senior Adviser and Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents (Singapore)
Ministry of Social and Family Development
Members:
Mr Arthur Ling
Chief Executive Officer
Fei Yue Community Services
Ms Bridget Monica Das
Head, Psychosocial Services
Ren Ci Hospital
Mr Chan Whee Peng
President, Singapore Association of Social Workers
Senior Lecturer, Social Work Programme
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Ms Han Yah Yee
Chief Executive Officer
Montfort Care
Ms Katherine Baptist
Freelance Trainer
Associate Prof Lee Geok Ling
Head, Department of Social Work
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
National University of Singapore
Mr Lee Seng Meng
Executive Director
SHINE Children & Youth Services
Mr Mohd Ali Bin Mahmood
Social Work Consultant
BroMohd – The Practice
Ms Ong Lay Hoon
Director, Community-based Support Services
Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore
Ms Susan Han
Deputy Director
Social Service Institute – Programme and Learning Services
National Council of Social Service
Dr Sylvia Mun
Vice Dean (Academic)
Head, Social Work Undergraduate Programmes
School of Social Work & Social Development
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Ms Tabitha Ong
Director, Adult Protective Service
Rehabilitation and Protection Group
Ministry of Social and Family Development
Ms Zeng Hui Hui
Head, Medical Social Services
Senior Principal Medical Social Worker
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
Functions of the Accreditation Secretariat
The functions of the Secretariat are to:
- Process and approve straightforward applications;
- Provide secretariat support to the Board;
- Conduct public education on the Accreditation System to Social Workers;
- Maintain records of accredited Social Workers and Social Service Practitioners;
- Update accredited members on training and other matters; and
- Review the training matrix/CPE credits.
Members of the Accreditation Secretariat
Head: Ms Jocelyn Tan
Manager: Ms Pearlyn Lee
Assistant Manager: Ms Sharon Song
Senior Executive: Ms Faezah Sallimin