Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Apr 1997

Vol. 151 No. 3

Adjournment Matters. - Validation of Qualifications.

Mr. Doyle

I ask the Minister for Health to give serious consideration to the arguments of a group of social workers employed by various agencies throughout the country to have their Bachelor of Science degrees and their many years work experience validated. There are approximately 200 social workers concerned. They have given many years of service as social workers and they are requesting that the national validation board recognise and validate their qualifications. They are also requesting that they be included in the validation process by virtue of their experience, ongoing supervision and in-service training. The Bachelor of Social Science degree was the best qualification available at the time of their qualification. Many of the social workers, on whose behalf I am speaking tonight, have been working in the profession for more than 20 years. They were committed to studying for this course in the first instance unlike others who opt for postgraduate and diploma courses.

If their qualifications are not validated, this will have serious effects on their opportunities for promotion, permanency in employment and mobility. Their integrity as social workers would be compromised and doubts would be cast on decisions made, and advice given, by them. Their status within their employing agency would be diminished.

Social workers are merely seeking fair play and I hope the Minister can accede to their request.

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. Currie)

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The National Social Work Qualifications Board was established as a corporate body on 27 February 1997 replacing the National Validation Body on Social Work Qualifications which was dissolved on that date.

A considerable amount of misinformation has been circulating concerning the role and function of this board which relates, in the main, to overseeing standards in social work training and education and the assessment of qualifications obtained outside the State. The board will also grant the National Qualifications in Social Work — NQSW — to those who have successfully completed recognised courses. The NQSW will replace the CQSW which was traditionally awarded by the UK Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work before its withdrawal from Ireland in 1993.

The NQSW is now the benchmark entry qualification for employment in the public health service but I stress that qualifications pertaining to social work posts in such areas as the probation and welfare service, local authorities and so remain a matter for decision by the relevant Departments, that is, the Departments of Justice and Environment respectively.

The former National Validation Body on Social Work Qualifications and Training was requested to examine the issue of Bachelor of Social Science graduates in the public health service and make recommendations on the matter. The body reported on 20 November 1996 and, following examination by my Department of the advice received, it was decided that additional detail was required on a number of issues. This information was provided in due course and will be dealt with following the inaugural meeting of the National Social Work Qualifications Board which is tentatively scheduled for late May.

Therefore, I am not in a position to make any further comment at present other than to say that, as the board is not a registration body, the question of disqualifying social workers who do not hold NQSW qualifications and who are currently employed in the State will not arise.

The Seanad adjourned at 7.15 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 24 April 1997.