Overview

The South African Council for Social Service Professions’ (SACSSP) comprehensive role, based on the provisions of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 together with the Regulations and Rules thereto, is to be the determining, guiding and directing authority body within the structure of social service professions in South Africa. The SACSSP fulfills this role by (i) setting the standards for education and training of social service professionals (qualifications and continuous professional development); (i) regulating who may practice through the registration of social service professionals as a requirement to practice; (iii) setting and maintaining standards for the professional conduct of social service professionals and exercise effective control over such professional conduct; as well as (iv) by taking policy resolutions as guidelines for the practicing of the social service professions under its auspices.

Currently, the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) is responsible to regulate the following professions:

• Social work (social workers, social auxiliary workers, student social workers and student social auxiliary workers)
• Child and youth care work (child and youth care workers (professional category), child and youth care workers (auxiliary category), student child and youth care workers (professional and auxiliary level))

All persons who practise any of the social service professions falling under the auspices of the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) are obliged to register and renew their registration annually through the payment of annual fees as prescribed by the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 and the Regulations thereto. Failure to do so constitutes a criminal offense.

Note:

• Students social workers: Students enrolled and studying towards a qualification in social work are required to register with the SACSSP before 31 March in their second year of study.
• Student social auxiliary workers: Students enrolled and studying towards a qualification in social auxiliary work are required to register with the SACSSP on the date of commencement of their first year of study.
• Student child and youth care workers: Students enrolled and studying towards a qualification in child and youth care work at a professional or auxiliary level are required to register with the SACSSP before 31 March in their first year of study.

Also, see Registration.