Professional child and youth care work practice focuses on the infant, child and adolescent, both normal and with special needs, within the context of the family, the community and the life span.

Definition

Professional child and youth care work is therapeutic care with children and youth within the context in which they spend their everyday life (life space), including but not limited to residential care, foster care, the family, and community. The fundamental perspectives of child and youth care work are developmental, ecological, and strengths-based, contextualised within a relational approach. Child and youth care work promotes the well-being, protection, and optimal development of children and youth who are experiencing personal psycho-social or developmental competency challenges. Child and youth care work practice includes knowledge and skill regarding child and youth development, developmental assessment, design and implementation of programmes, the therapeutic use of everyday life events, the therapeutic use of daily care routines, life-space counselling, crisis intervention with children and youth who are in emotional crisis and unable to self-regulate, therapeutic environments, supervision, administration, teaching, research, consultation and advocacy.

Regulation

Child and youth care work is a regulated profession in South Africa comprising a body of scientific knowledge and competencies practiced by persons registered in terms of section 18A of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978. See Registration.

Practice Settings

A child and youth care worker’s practice is generally executed in a range of practice settings, including but not limited to government departments at a national and provincial level; local government; non-governmental organisations; schools, child and youth care centres; community-based organisations; amongst others. such as early care and education, community-based child and youth development programs, parent education and family support, school-based programs, community mental health, group homes, residential centres, rehabilitation programs, paediatric health care and child justice programs.

Titles

The titles of child and youth care worker, auxiliary child and youth care worker, student child and youth care worker and student auxiliary child and youth care worker are protected in terms of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 and Regulations.

The title ‘child and youth care worker’ may only be used by a person who has met the prescribed education requirements for registration as a child and youth care worker as provided under regulation 16 of the Regulations for child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers and student child and youth care workers, and who is registered with the SACSSP as a child and youth care worker in terms of section 18A of the Act.

The title ‘auxiliary child and youth care worker’ may on be used by a person who has met the prescribed education requirements for registration as an auxiliary child and youth care worker as provided under regulation 16 of the Regulations for child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers and student child and youth care workers, and who is registered with the SACSSP as an auxiliary child and youth care worker in terms of section 18A of the Act.

The title ‘student child and youth care worker’ may on be used by a person who is enrolled at a training institution providing a prescribed qualification in child and youth care work and who is registered with the SACSSP as a student child and youth care worker (professional or auxiliary level) in terms of section 18B of the Act.

The title ‘student auxiliary child and youth care worker’ may on be used by a person who is enrolled at a training institution providing a prescribed qualification in auxiliary child and youth care work and who is registered with the SACSSP as a student child and youth care worker (professional or auxiliary level) in terms of section 18B of the Act.

Section 15 of the Act is explicit in prohibiting any person that is not registered with the SACSSP to practice these professions or any act which especially pertains to child and youth care work and auxiliary child and youth care work, or give instruction any subject with connection to child and youth care work and auxiliary child and youth care work, or pretend to a person registered as a child and youth care worker, auxiliary child and youth care worker, student child and youth care worker and student auxiliary child and youth care worker. Section 16 of the Act renders that any person who uses any of these titles without being registered is guilty of an offence.

Role

Role of the Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work

The Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work is established in terms of section 14A(1) of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 and is responsible for specific matters related to professional regulation of child and youth care workers and auxiliary child and youth care workers.

In accordance with section 14B of the Act, the purpose (also known as objects) of the Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work is to:

consult and engage with other professional boards and relevant authorities (for example Department of Social Development, SAQA, etc.) on matters that impact the child and youth care work profession;
control and exercise authority regarding the training of child and youth care workers and auxiliary child and youth care workers. It has to work with training institutions (for example universities and colleges) on the standards for the training of child and youth care workers and auxiliary child and youth care workers. In this way, Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work ensures that all training (and qualifications) are of quality and at the level that will ensure that a person can practice his or her profession. Also, see Prescribed Qualifications;
determine who may offer the prescribed qualifications for child and youth care workers and auxiliary child and youth care workers, and set the requirements for the continuing professional development of child and youth care workers and auxiliary child and youth care workers;
control and exercise authority regarding the manner in which child and youth care work and auxiliary child and youth care work should be practiced, which includes the standards of professional conduct;
communicate with the Minister on any matter of public importance that it is concerned about, which falls within the mandate of the Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work;
maintain and enhance the dignity and integrity of the child and youth care work profession;
guide child and youth care workers and auxiliary child and youth care workers regarding their professional roles and obligations; and
protect the public. This includes ensuring that the child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers, student child and youth care workers and student auxiliary child and youth care workers adhere to a professional code of ethics and that no-one practice the child and youth care work and auxiliary child and youth care work or say that he or she is a such a child and youth care worker or auxiliary child and youth care worker without being registered with the SACSSP.

The Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work needs to execute the following powers in terms of section 14C of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978:

direct that the name of a person is removed from the Register kept in terms of section 19 of the Act for child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers, student child and youth care workers and student auxiliary child and youth care workers if such a person does not comply with the requirements to be registered;
direct that the name of a person who has been removed from the Register kept in terms of section 19 of the Act be restored upon payment of the prescribed fee (restoration fee);
suspend a registered child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers, student child and youth care workers and student auxiliary child and youth care worker from practicing pending the carrying out of any inquiry in terms of section 21 of the Act;
appoint examiners and moderators;
conduct Professional Board examinations, for example for the purpose of registration;
approve training institutions that may provide the Prescribed Qualifications in child and youth care work and auxiliary child and youth care work;
consider and deal with any matter affecting the child and youth care work profession and make representations or take such action in connection with such matter as the Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work considers advisable;
recognise any qualification, subject to prescribed conditions, held by a person (whether such qualification has been obtained in the Republic or elsewhere) as being equal, either wholly or in part, to any Prescribed Qualification, in child and youth care work and auxiliary child and youth care work;
establish joint standing committees with other Professional Boards; and
perform the required prescribed functions (as per the Rules and Regulations, as well as the Act) to achieve the objects of Council (section 3) and the Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work (section 14B) in relation to the child and youth care work.

Also, see Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work

Child and Youth Care Work Practice

Requirements to practice child and youth care work

The requirements to practice as a child and youth care worker and auxiliary child and youth care worker, and for students undergoing field instruction (practicums and internships) as student child and youth care workers and student auxiliary child and youth care workers, are set out the Regulations (indicated below), made in terms of section 28 of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978. Please study applicable Regulations carefully before you proceed with registration or restoration. Click on the underlined text to download the Regulations.

Child and youth care workers

Regulations for child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers and student child and youth care workers (Government Notice No. 838 published in Government Gazette No. 38135 of 31 October 2014)

Auxiliary child and youth care workers

Student child and youth care workers

Student auxiliary child and youth care workers

Scope of Practice: Child and youth care work

Every profession has a scope of practice, which refers to the parameters within which such a professional who has met the prescribed registration requirements may practice his or her profession. The Regulations for child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers and student child and youth care workers (Government Notice No. 838 published in Government Gazette No. 38135 of 31 October 2014) provides for the scope of practice for child and youth care workers and auxiliary child and youth care workers .

Child and youth care work practice is executed in accordance with the Rules relating to conduct of child and youth care workers practising at professional and auxiliary levels (code of ethics) that applies to child and youth care workers , auxiliary child and youth care workers, student child and youth care workers and student auxiliary child and youth care workers.

CHILD AND YOUTH CARE WORK

The scope of practice for child and youth care work (regulation 18) includes:

care and development of children and youth where their physical, emotional, spiritual, cognitive, social survival and developmental needs are protected;
behaviour management of an individual child or of groups of children;
design and implementation of programmes for children and youth on the basis of their identified developmental needs;
developmental assessment of children and youth within their life-space;
development and maintenance of planned environments in child and youth care work;
implementation of life-space work;
the undertaking of child and youth care work administration;
developmental play;
advocacy for the rights of children;
policy development in the field of child and youth care work;
consulting, supervision management and directing of child and youth care workers;
participation in and the leading of multi-disciplinary teams; and
life-space counselling.

AUXILIARY CHILD AND YOUTH CARE WORK

Scope of practice for auxiliary child and youth care work (regulation 19) includes the following acts performed under the supervision of a registered child and youth care worker :

the provision of basic and developmental care of children and youth where their physical, emotional, spiritual, cognitive and social needs are protected;
the application of behaviour management and support techniques in routine child and youth care work;
assistance with the implementation of programmes and activities for children and youth on the basis of their identified developmental needs;
participation in the developmental assessment of children and youth;
the maintenance of planned environments in child and youth care work;
the implementation of life-space work, including life-space counselling;
the undertaking of basic child and youth care work administration;
participation in a multi-disciplinary team;
developmental play; and
advocacy for the rights of children.

Also, see Students

Specialities in child and youth care work

Currently, no specialities in child and youth care work have been established in terms of section 17C of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978.

Private Practice in child and youth care work

A child and youth care worker practice through and/or as part of private practice where he or she practices for his or her own account within the scope of practice of child and youth care work on a fulltime or parttime basis. These services usually depend on the child and youth care worker’s field(s) of expertise.

Note: An auxiliary child and youth care worker is not permitted practice through and/or as part of a private practice.

Professional Supervision in Child and Youth Care Work

Professional supervision in child and youth care work refers to the process of professional learning and development that enables individuals to reflect on and develop their knowledge, skills, and competence, through agreed and regular support by another child and youth care worker.

In accordance with the Regulations for child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers and student child and youth care workers (Government Notice No. 838 published in Government Gazette No. 38135 of 31 October 2014) only a registered child and youth care worker may provide professional supervision to a:

child and youth care worker
auxiliary child and youth care worker
student child and youth care worker
student auxiliary child and youth care worker

It is imperative that all employers and training institutions (in relation to students) take note of the above and ensure the implementation thereof.

Foreign Graduates

Foreign graduates in child and youth care work

A child and youth care worker and auxiliary child and youth care worker who has obtained his or her basic qualification (or first qualification) outside of the Republic of South Africa and who wishes to practice a child and youth care work or auxiliary child and youth care work in the country must first have his or her qualification assessed by the SACSSP in terms of section 17D of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 as to ascertain whether such a qualification is of the same standard of professional education and training as the required for a child and youth care workers and auxiliary child and youth care workers . See Prescribed Qualifications.

For more information please see Foreign Graduates and Foreign Graduates (Registration)

Students

Student Child and Youth Care Worker

Registration:

Every student enrolled for a qualification in child and youth care work is required to be registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) from his or her first year of study in terms of regulation 3(1) of the Regulations for child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers and student child and youth care workers (Government Notice No. 838 published in Government Gazette No. 38135 of 31 October 2014).

Higher Education and other training institutions need to ensure that every first-year student enrolled for a qualification in child and youth care work is registered before 31 March each year.

A student child and youth care worker will receive a registration certificate and a SACSSP registration number that is valid for the entire duration of his or her studies.

No student child and youth care worker may engage in any field instruction (practicums and internships) if he or she is not registered as a student child and youth care workers with the SACSSP.

Also, see Registration

Field instruction (practicums and internships):

A student child and youth care workers may perform on the instruction and under the direct control, supervision and guidance of a registered child and youth care worker , any of the acts prescribed in the Regulations, and delegated to him or her by that registered child and youth care worker as part of his or her education, tuition, training, field instruction or internship; unless the performance of such an act is prohibited by law.

Also, see Training Institutions and Titles

Professional conduct:

A student child and youth care workers (professional or auxiliary level)is also required to adhere to the profession’s Code of Ethics and needs to understand the Rules relating to the acts or omissions which constitute unprofessional or improper conduct of child and youth care workers and Rules relating to the conduct of child and youth care workers practicing at professional and auxiliary levels (Government Notice No 833 published in Government Gazette 38128 of 31 October 2014)

See Professional Conduct and Ethics

Student auxiliary child and youth care worker

Registration:

Every student enrolled for a qualification in auxiliary child and youth care work is required to be registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) from his or her first year of study in terms of regulation 3(1) of the Regulations for child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers and student child and youth care workers (Government Notice No. 838 published in Government Gazette No. 38135 of 31 October 2014).

Higher Education and other training institutions need to ensure that every first-year student enrolled for a qualification in auxiliary child and youth care work is registered before 31 March each year.

A student auxiliary child and youth care worker will receive a registration certificate and a SACSSP registration number that is valid for the entire duration of his or her studies.

No student auxiliary child and youth care worker may engage in any field instruction (practicums and internships) if he or she is not registered as a student auxiliary child and youth care workers with the SACSSP.

Also, see Registration

Field instruction (practicums and internships):

A student auxiliary child and youth care workers may perform on the instruction and under the direct control, supervision and guidance of a registered child and youth care worker , any of the acts prescribed in the Regulations, and delegated to him or her by that registered child and youth care worker as part of his or her education, tuition, training, field instruction or internship; unless the performance of such an act is prohibited by law.

Also, see Training Institutions and Titles

Professional conduct:

A student auxiliary child and youth care workers is also required to adhere to the profession’s Code of Ethics and needs to understand the Rules relating to the acts or omissions which constitute unprofessional or improper conduct of child and youth care workers and Rules relating to the conduct of child and youth care workers practicing at professional and auxiliary levels (Government Notice No 833 published in Government Gazette 38128 of 31 October 2014)

See Professional Conduct and Ethics

Ethics

Code of Ethics

Child and youth care work practice is executed in accordance with the profession’s Code of Ethics and professional conduct that applies to child and youth care workers, auxiliary child and youth care workers, student child and youth care workers and student auxiliary child and youth care workers.

Please see the Code of Ethics in Part B of the Rules relating to the acts or omissions which constitute unprofessional or improper conduct of child and youth care workers and Rules relating to the conduct of child and youth care workers practicing at professional and auxiliary levels (Government Notice No 833 published in Government Gazette 38128 of 31 October 2014)

Also, see Professional Conduct and Solemn Declaration

Resources

Virtual library: See Virtual Library

Enquiries

Enquiries: Child and Youth Care Work: Enquiries related to the mandate and work of the Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work can be directed to the Secretary of the Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Workat the following email address MolebohengM@sacssp.co.za