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. The developmental-ecological perspective emphasizes the interaction between persons and the physical and social environments, including cultural and political settings. Child and youth care work promotes the optimal development of children, youth and their families in a variety of settings. Child and youth care work practice includes skills in assessing client and programme needs, designing and implementing programmes and planned environments, integrating developmental, preventive and therapeutic requirements into the life space, contributing to the development of knowledge and professions, and participating in systems interventions through direct care, supervision, administration, teaching, research, consultation and advocacy.

NACCW/ International Child and Youth Care Education Consortium

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

A child and youth care worker’s (professional category of registration and/or auxiliary category of registration) 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 juvenile justice programs.

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

The title ‘child and youth care worker (professional category of registration)’ may only be used by a person who has met the prescribed education requirements for registration as a child and youth care worker (professional category of registration) and who is registered with the SACSSP as a child and youth care worker (professional category of registration) in terms of section 18A of the Act.

The title ‘child and youth care worker (auxiliary category of registration)’ may on be used by a person who has met the prescribed education requirements for registration as a child and youth care worker (auxiliary category of registration) and who is registered with the SACSSP as a child and youth care worker (auxiliary category of registration)in terms of section 18A of the Act.

The title ‘student child and youth care worker (professional or auxiliary level)’ may on be used by a person who is enrolled at training institution providing a prescribed qualification in child and youth care work either at a professional or auxiliary level 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 Council to practise these professions or any act which especially pertains to a profession or give instruction any subject with connection to these professions; or pretend to a person registered for the professions mentioned above. Section 16 of the Act renders that any person who use any of these titles without being registered is guilty of an offence.

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

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:

• should consult and engage with other professional boards and relevant authorities (for example Department of Social Development, SAQA, etc.) on matters that impact on the child and youth care work profession
• control and exercise authority regarding the training of child and youth care workers (professional category of registration) and child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration). It has to work with training institutions (for example universities and colleges) on the standards for the training of child and youth care workers (professional category of registration) and child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration). 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 practise his or her profession. Also see Prescribed qualifications.
• to determine who may offer the prescribed qualifications for child and youth care workers (professional category of registration) and child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration) and set the requirements for the continuing professional development of child and youth care workers (professional category of registration) and child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration).
• control and exercise authority regarding manner in which child and youth care work should be practised, 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 the child and youth care workers (professional category of registration) and child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration) regarding their professional roles and obligations
• protect the public. This includes ensuring that the child and youth care workers (professional category of registration), child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration) and student child and youth care workers (professional and auxiliary category), adhere to a professional code of ethics and that no-one practise the child and youth care work (professional category of registration) and child and youth care work (auxiliary category of registration), or say that he or she is a such a child and youth care worker (professional category of registration) and child and youth care worker (auxiliary category of registration) 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 be removed from the Register kept in terms of section 19 of the Act for child and youth care workers (professional category of registration), child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration) and student child and youth care workers (professional and auxiliary category), 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 (professional category of registration), child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration) and student child and youth care workers (professional and auxiliary category) from practising 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 or related to a speciality in child and youth care work
• approve training institutions that may provide the prescribe qualifications in child and youth care work (professional and auxiliary category).
• 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 (professional category of registration) and child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration)
• establish joint standing committees with other Professional Boards
• 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 child and youth care work

 Also see Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work 

The requirements to practise as a child and youth care worker (professional category of registration) and  child and youth care worker (auxiliary category of registration) and for students undergoing field institution (practicums and internships) as student child and youth care workers (professional and auxiliary category) 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 (professional category of registration)

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)

Child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration)

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)

Student child and youth care workers (professional and auxiliary category)

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)

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 (professional category of registration) and  child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration).

Child and youth care worker practice is executed in accordance with the professions Code of Ethics that applies to child and youth care workers (professional category of registration), child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration) and student child and youth care workers (professional and auxiliary category).

CHILD AND YOUTH CARE WORKERS (PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY OF REGISTRATION)

The scope of practice for child and youth care work within professional category of registration (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
• 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
• life-space counselling.

CHILD AND YOUTH CARE WORKERS (AUXILIARY CATEGORY OF REGISTRATION)

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

• 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
• advocacy for the rights of children

Also see Students

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

A child and youth care worker (professional category of registration) may establish a private practice and render services that fall within the scope of practice of child and youth care work. These services usually depend on the child and youth care worker’s (professional category of registration) field(s) of expertise.

Professional supervision in child and youth care work refers the support and guidance provided to a child and youth care worker to facilitate his or her development in the work environment.

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 (professional category of registration) may provide professional supervision to a:

• child and youth care worker (professional category of registration)
• child and youth care worker (auxiliary category of registration)
• student child and youth care workers (professional and auxiliary level)

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

A child and youth care worker (professional category of registration) and  child and youth care worker (auxiliary category of registration) who has obtained his or her basic (or first qualification) outside of the Republic of South Africa and who wishes to practise a child and youth care work (professional category of registration) or child and youth care work (auxiliary category of registration) 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 ascertained whether such a qualification is of the same standard of professional education and training as the required for a child and youth care workers (professional category of registration) and  child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration). See prescribed .

For more information please see Foreign graduates and foreign graduates (registration) 

Registration:

Every student enrolled for a qualification in a child and youth care work either professional or auxiliary level 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 at either professional or auxiliary level is registered before 31 March each year.

A student child and youth care workers (professional or auxiliary level) 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 (professional or auxiliary level) may engage in any field institution (practicums and internships) if he or she is not registered as a student child and youth care workers (professional or auxiliary level) with the SACSSP.

Also see Registration

Field institution (practicums and internships:

A student child and youth care workers (professional or auxiliary level) may perform on the instructions and under the direct control, supervision and guidance of a registered child and youth care worker (professional category of registration), any of the acts 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 conduct of child and youth care workers practising at professional and auxiliary levels (Government Notice No 833 published in Government Gazette 38128 of 31 October 2014)

See Professional conduct and Ethics

Child and youth care practice is executed in accordance with the professions Code of Ethics and professional conduct that applies to social workers, social auxiliary workers, student social workers and student social auxiliary 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 conduct of child and youth care workers practising 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

See Virtual Library

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 at the following email address MolebohengM@sacssp.co.za