Page 58 - DSD ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2
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PART B: PERFORMANCE INFORMATION                                              PERFORMANCE BY PROGRAMME

        this regard total of one hundred and fourteen (114) participants   the responsibility for the delivery of social welfare services, non-
        attended the training.                                governmental organisations and community-based organisations.
        Alternative Care                                      The  implementation  plan  was  consulted  with  the  national
        The Department conducted capacity building on the Developmental   government departments, the non-governmental organisations, the
        Assessment  Tool for children in alternative care and Guidelines   institutions of higher learning, professional bodies and associations.
        for Independent Living Programme in four (4) provinces, namely;
        Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. A total   The Draft White Paper for Social Development provides a framework
        of three hundred and seventy-two (372) Social Service Practitioners   for the development of an overarching social development
        were reached.  The training on the Developmental  Assessment   legislation.  The Department started the process of drafting the
        Tool was aimed at empowering Social Service Practitioners to   legislation. The draft Social Development Bill was consulted with
        conduct thorough assessments of all children placed in alternative   all provincial Departments of Social Development.
        care, ensuring that the developmental needs and strengths of
        the children are met. Similarly, the training on the Guidelines for   The draft Bill was further consulted with research institutions,
        Independent Living Programmes was intended to ensure that   institutions of higher learning, the South African Council for Social
        Social Service Practitioners are equipped to prepare children for   Service Professions and professional associations. A consultation
        the transition to independent living as productive citizens through   report was developed.  The draft Social Development Bill will
        obtaining life skills and education.                  provide a unified system to guide the provision of comprehensive,
                                                              integrated, rights-based and well-resourced quality social
        Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)                 development services.
        During the period under review, Department piloted the Monitoring
        Tool for the Guidelines for Community-Based Prevention and Early  Social Service Professional Support
        Intervention Services to Vulnerable Children in three (3) provinces,   The Department planned to submit and make presentation on the
        namely, Limpopo, North West and Gauteng.   Following the pilot,   Social Service Practitioners Draft Bill (SSP Draft Bill) to the Cluster
        the tool was then presented and approved by the DDG Forum and   for support and final submission to Cabinet. However, this was not
        noted by the Welfare Services Forum in March 2022.    achieved due to the fact the final certification of Bill was not yet
                                                              issued by the Office of Chief State Law Advisor (OCSLA) at the end
        The Department further launched the Community-Based Prevention   of reporting period. To this end, OCSLA submitted comments and
        and Early Intervention Programme (RISIHA), a XiTsonga name which   legal opinion on the SSP Draft Bill. The Department considered
        means ‘Resilience’. The Programme was launched by the Minister of   the comments and legal opinion from OCSLA, updated the Bill and
        Social Development in September 2021 at Siyanakekela Drop-in-  developed a detailed response on identified areas.
        Centre in Mpumalanga. The aim of the launch was to promote and
        create awareness of its existence to all communities.   The updated Bill and response were submitted to the OCSLA in
                                                              November 2021. Further feedback was received from OCSLA in
        Professional Social Services and Older Persons        December 2021. The Department will review the feedback from
                                                              the OCSLA, update the Bill and resubmit it for final certification.
        Services Standards, Quality Assurance and Governance  In addition to this, the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System
        In  the  2020/21  financial  year,  the  Department  developed  the   (SEIAS) report on the Bill was developed and submitted to DPME
        White Paper for Social Development through rigorous consultation   for certification, which was granted in August 2021.
        with  various stakeholders. During the period under review, the
        Department facilitated the consideration and approval of the   The Department continues to monitor the implementation of the
        Cabinet Memorandum and the applicable annexures by the   Social Service Professions Act, 1978 (Act No.110 of 1978). During
        Minister in preparation for tabling the draft  White Paper before   the reporting period, the Department commenced with the work to
        Cabinet for approval.  The draft  White Paper was  presented to   develop, amend and review the regulations on the SSP Act. Similarly,
        Cabinet Committee in November 2021 for approval. The Cabinet   the Department amended regulations on nominations and election
        Committee recommended the establishment of a task team, with   of members of Council and developed draft regulations pertaining
        the support of the Departmental  EXCO to further enhance and   the scope of practice for the social work profession and continued
        strengthen the White Paper. Subsequent engagements were held   professional development for social service professions.
        with NEDLAC for consideration and support prior to re-tabling of
        the White Paper before Cabinet. The engagements with NEDLAC   The unit also amended regulations on fees payable by social service
        sought  to ensure that the  White Paper promotes the goals of   professionals.
        economic growth, participatory democracy, social equity and that   The regulations on nominations and elections of members of
        it represents community and development interests. The NEDLAC   Council and draft regulations on scope of practice were gazetted
        engagements  led  to  the  establishment  of  the  task  team,  the   for public comments. Furthermore, regulations on fees payable by
        development  of  the Terms  of  Reference  (TORs)  and  confirmation   SSP’s and regulations on nomination and election of members of
        of schedule of consultations. Once consolidated, the White Paper   Council and Professional Boards were gazetted for implementation.
        is envisaged to be re-tabled before Cabinet during the 2022/23   The  unit  also  facilitated  approval  of  regulations  on  social  work
        financial year.                                       scope of practice for publication in the government gazette for
                                                              implementation which are due for consideration and approval
        To ensure that mechanisms and resources are put in place for   by the Minister. Furthermore, the unit facilitated consideration
        the effective implementation of the White Paper, the Department   of pertinent issues on regulations on social work specialty areas
        developed the draft Implementation Plan for the White Paper. The   specifically  Forensic  Social  Work,  Occupational  Social  Work  and
        plan provides for the implementation of the White Paper by the   Supervision Social Work and regulations on Continued Professional
        Social Development Sector, other government departments, with   Development, submitted for Minister consideration.


    58    DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22
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