Adoption is a specialized area in the field of child care and - protection and it is regulated by the Child Care Act, 1983 (Act No. 74 of 1983), Children’s Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005 as amended) and Social Service Professions Act 1978 (Act No. 110 of 1978). The Social Service Professions Act requires that adoption service providers be registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) as a specialty in adoption work. The South African Association for Social Workers in Private Practice (SAASWIPP) has been mandated by the Council to accredit adoption social workers in private practice (National Department of Social Development is the accrediting body while SAASWIPP is the regulatory body overseeing SIPP). The requirements for the registration of a specialty in adoption work are as follows:
2. (1) The Council shall on application register a speciality in adoption work
where a social worker has a recognized qualification in social work and is
registered as a social worker with the SACSSP; and who has:
(i) an appropriate Master’s degree which meets the requirements as set out by South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) and the SACSSP in adoption work, plus at least two years appropriate and evidence-based practical experience within the scope of adoption work; or
(ii) an appropriate postgraduate diploma or certificate in adoption work which meets the requirements as set out by SAQA and the SACSSP, plus three years in adoption work; or
(iii) five years appropriate and evidence-based practical experience within the scope of adoption work.
3. (1) All social workers who comply with the provisions of regulation 2 and who apply for registration of a speciality in adoption work shall
(a) pass a SACSSP Professional Board examination on adoption work pay the prescribed examination fee;
(b) pay the prescribed speciality registration fee.
Both the Children’s Act and the National Adoption Strategy prioritizes adoption as a preferred form of permanent alternative care for young adoptable children, thus there is a need for more skilled adoption social workers.
Although adoption is acknowledged by the Children’s Act as a specialist area of service delivery, there is no standardized form of training available for adoption social workers. The undergraduate Social Work degree does not include adoption training in the curriculum, as it is a specialized field. There are currently also no diploma or certificate training offered by a Tertiary institution as suggested in the requirements for the registration of a speciality in adoption work.
2. (1) The Council shall on application register a speciality in adoption work
where a social worker has a recognized qualification in social work and is
registered as a social worker with the SACSSP; and who has:
(i) an appropriate Master’s degree which meets the requirements as set out by South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) and the SACSSP in adoption work, plus at least two years appropriate and evidence-based practical experience within the scope of adoption work; or
(ii) an appropriate postgraduate diploma or certificate in adoption work which meets the requirements as set out by SAQA and the SACSSP, plus three years in adoption work; or
(iii) five years appropriate and evidence-based practical experience within the scope of adoption work.
3. (1) All social workers who comply with the provisions of regulation 2 and who apply for registration of a speciality in adoption work shall
(a) pass a SACSSP Professional Board examination on adoption work pay the prescribed examination fee;
(b) pay the prescribed speciality registration fee.
Both the Children’s Act and the National Adoption Strategy prioritizes adoption as a preferred form of permanent alternative care for young adoptable children, thus there is a need for more skilled adoption social workers.
Although adoption is acknowledged by the Children’s Act as a specialist area of service delivery, there is no standardized form of training available for adoption social workers. The undergraduate Social Work degree does not include adoption training in the curriculum, as it is a specialized field. There are currently also no diploma or certificate training offered by a Tertiary institution as suggested in the requirements for the registration of a speciality in adoption work.
Purpose of the course
The first programme, Adoption as a specialized field aims to facilitate an understanding of the Best Interest Principle of the child and addressing the permanency of children where adoption forms part of an integrated approach to Child Protection using different legislation and policies as guiding tool. This programme will furthermore provide the participants with theoretical knowledge on intervention strategies as well as evidence-based practice skills that will increase the social worker’s knowledge and professional development to successfully conduct Adoption and related activities, in South Africa, in an ethical manner.
Trained social workers will have the knowledge and skills to render adoption services within a supervised structure and they will have the appropriate postgraduate diploma or certificate as proof of successful completion of the short course.
Trained social workers will have the knowledge and skills to render adoption services within a supervised structure and they will have the appropriate postgraduate diploma or certificate as proof of successful completion of the short course.
Admission requirements
Admission requirements
Social workers registered with SACSSP. Two-year appropriate work experience or special interest in working with children and their families within the field of Child and Family Care is recommended. Access to a computer with a webcam, headphones and uninterrupted internet access.
Learning assumed to be in place
Recommendation of two year’s social work practice experience in the field of Child and Family Care. Computer literate and moderately skilled to use MS Office, the internet, e-mails, social media and communication systems like Skype, Zoom or Vidyo.
Course outcomes and assessment criteria
Course outcomes and the associated assessment criteria
Study Unit |
Outcomes |
Assessment Criteria |
| After completion of this course, participants will: | Participant will be assessed on the following criteria: | |
| 1. The student will demonstrate an ability to critically understand the complex nature of knowledge within the field of Adoption in South Africa, as part of an integrated approach. |
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| 2. The student will demonstrate an integrated knowledge of and engagement in Adoption as specialized field and a critical understanding and application of theories, techniques, to execute adoption within the appropriate legislative mandate relevant to adoption. |
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| 3. The students will demonstrate the ability to select and effectively apply a wide range of relevant/appropriate skills as a social worker in order to implement appropriate methods or procedures to plan and successfully implement adoption services to the adoption triad in South Africa |
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| 4. The students will demonstrate the ability to critically judge the ethical/professional conduct of others within different cultural/ social/ professional/ academic environments/ of the field of adoption and to effect change in conduct where necessary |
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Assessment
A total of four assignments, two written assignments, and two power-point presentations must be submitted as formative assessments which will contribute 50% towards the final mark. The two assignments in power-point presentations must be designed, presented to the identified audience, video record and up-loaded on e-Fundi for assessment. Must submit an e-portfolio as a summative assessment at the end of the short course, which will then contribute towards the other 50% of the final mark.
Method of assessment
To be eligible for a certificate, students must attend 90% of all online classroom sessions, complete all formative and summative assessments, and obtain a minimum mark of 50% for such assessments. As part of the formative assessment, the participants must weekly complete a reflective exercise on the e-Fundi chat room. Assessment will be done by using self, peer and lecture evaluations. Students who do not obtain a mark of 50% will be offered one opportunity to revise and resubmit all assignments. The successful candidate will receive a certificate that will be acknowledged by the council to accredit adoption social workers.
Additional information
Mode of delivery
Mixed
Target group
The target group of this project will be the social workers working at Child Protection Organisations that are accredited to render adoption services, as well as adoption social workers in private practice that are accredited by the DSD. The Children’s second amendment Act, Act No.18 of 2016, introduces the inclusion of a social worker in the employ of the Department of Social Development into the definition of “adoption social worker”, that can also be a target group for this project. Both the Department and other service providers have been preparing for this, but only a small percentage of social workers now qualifying have received some form of training or had exposure to adoptions in practice. It is absolutely crucial that social workers who will be identified to do adoptions have the required ethical, theoretical and practical skills to do justice to this complex service.
Contact us
Contact person name
UCE
Contact person e-mail
Uce-info@nwushortcourses.info