Overview

The South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) is the regulatory body entrusted to regulate the social service professions in South Africa as prescribed in the Act and the Regulations thereto. The SACSSP is an autonomous, financially independent, statutory body, established in terms of section 2 of Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978. It is also the recognised statutory professional body for the social service professions of social work and child and youth care work in terms of section 29 of National Qualifications Framework Act 67 of 2008 (NQF Act).

The SACSSP, in conjunction with the Professional Board for Social Work and the Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work regulates the professions of social work and child youth care work in aspects pertaining to registration (entry to the professions); minimum requirements for education and training (qualifications); professional conduct and ethical behaviour; ensuring continuing professional development; and fostering compliance with standards for professional practice. By regulating the professions, the SACSSP protects the public as well as the integrity of the professions through the execution of the powers and functions conferred upon it in terms of the Act.

To safeguard the public and the professions, registration with the SACSSP in terms of the Act is a prerequisite before practicing social work and child and youth care work; and no person may use the title of social worker, social auxiliary worker, child and youth care worker, and/or auxiliary child and youth care workers or practice as such, without being registered with the SACSSP. .

The SACSSP fulfils its regulatory mandate (powers and functions) through Council, Professional Board for Social Work and Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work under its auspices, supported by its Secretariat (administration).