Occupational Certificate: Social Auxilliary Work

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Social Auxiliary Worker.
This occupation assists in the provisioning of social services and support to individuals, families, groups and communities with regards to a full range of social services and related social welfare matters. These services include but are not limited to services and support relating to: emotional trauma (life skills development/emotional stress); financial stress; recreational needs; social needs and matters relating to housing (Developmental approach).

A qualified learner will be able to:

• Provide basic counselling and support services to individuals and families with socio-economic challenges.

• Facilitate non-therapeutic (educational and support groups) groups towards achieving the f the developmental goals of the group.

• Facilitate participatory development in communities to address their common socio-economic needs and to promote social justice.

• Collect and collate data to inform social services interventions.
  
  RATIONALE:
  A national priority in South Africa is to address the many social development needs prevalent among individuals, families, groups and communities. Social auxiliary work and social work are acknowledged as being essential to address these priority social needs. Social auxiliary work and social work are in the frontline of social development and transformation, particularly in traditionally under-resourced communities.
  
  The need for social auxiliary workers in South Africa was identified, leading to the role and functions of Social Auxiliary Work being defined in the Regulations to the Social Service Professions Act. Social Auxiliary Work is defined as "an act or activity practised by a social auxiliary worker under the guidance and control of the social worker and as a supporting service to a social worker to achieve the aims of social work". This implies that social auxiliary workers are assistants to social workers, providing support services and working under the supervision of social workers. Social auxiliary work complements and supports social work in all focus areas with services to individuals, families, groups and communities.
  
  In order to provide this assistance and support to the social work team, a qualification in social auxiliary work and registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) is necessary.
  
  This is in order to empower social auxiliary workers to assist social workers in the rendering of developmental social welfare services. This occupational certificate will enable the qualifying learner to meet the requirements for registration as a Social Auxiliary Worker with the South African Council for Social Service Professionals (SACSSP). 

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