Every social worker, social auxiliary worker, child and youth care workers (professional category of registration) and child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration) are required in terms of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 and the Regulations thereto to be registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) as a pre-requisite to practice his or her profession.

A social worker, social auxiliary worker, child and youth care workers (professional category of registration) and child and youth care workers (auxiliary category of registration) who is not registered with the SACSSP is not allowed to practice and if he or she does practice without being registered, he or she is guilty of an offence in terms of section 16 of the Act

Students in social work, social auxiliary work and child and youth care work are also required in terms of the Act to be registered with the SACSSP.

Registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) and the annual renewal of such registration as a legal requirement is a social service professional licence to practice his or her profession with pride and confidence. Being registered does not only means that a social service professional is practicing legally, but also ensures that:

• you are immediately associated with the qualifications and competencies associated with the profession that you are registered for.
• you are recognised by your peers within the social services professions as well as other professions that you meet the minimum requirements associated with your profession.
• you are respected in multiple multi-disciplinary teams for your profession as well as your obligation to legally adhere to a code of ethics.
• you are sanctioned to execute certain unique tasks that are only associated with the profession you are registered for.
• you are empowered by various laws to execute statutory tasks that are solely associated with the profession that you are registered for.
• you can call yourself the exclusively reserved title associated with the profession that you are registered for, e.g. social worker or child and youth care worker. Persons who are not registered with the SACSSP may not use these reserved titles and if they use them without being registered, they break the law and may be subject to criminal sanctions.
• employers know that you meet the requirements expected from your profession and are assured that you have the qualifications and ability to practice your profession.
• employers know that you are subjected to continuous professional development (CPD) that increases their confidence that you will be up to date with the developments in your professional field.
• the public (including clients) knows that you are qualified to execute the responsibilities associated with your profession with confidence and in adherence to the ethics associated with your profession.
• the public is protected against unethical practices and unprofessional or improper conduct.
• prestige, status, integrity and dignity of your profession and the associated professionalism are protected and promoted through strict adherence to standards for the ethical and professional conduct and the consequences imposed by law through the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 for unprofessional or improper conduct.
• the international recognition for the social service profession that you are registered for as a result of the recognition of SACSSP and its standards internationally.

In short, being registered gives the professional credibility and lends credence to the profession.
Source: SACSSP Newsletter 2017: Licence to practice: The purpose and value of professional registrations

It is important that the correct procedures be followed to register the SACSSP. This is explained in nine (9) steps below.

STEP 1: Read the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 and Regulations
The Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 and Regulations indicate the requirements for registration. It is important that you read it before you start the application process. You can download it under Requirements and criteria (either under Social Work or Child and Youth Care Work below).

STEP 2: Complete the correct Form
Make sure that you complete the correct application form for registration. The Forms for social workers, social auxiliary workers, student social workers and student social auxiliary workers, child and youth care workers (professional category), child and youth care workers (auxiliary category), student child and youth care workers and student auxiliary child and youth care workers can be downloaded under Application (either under Social Work or Child and Youth Care Work below).

STEP 3: Read the instructions on the Form
Each Form has clear instructions that will assist with the completion therefor. Read the instructions on the Form carefully before you start completing the form.

STEP 4: Include these required supporting documents
Your application form needs to be accompanied by curtained required supporting documents. The supporting documents that are required are clearly indicated on each Form. Your application is only complete if the required supporting documents are included with the application form for registration. Without these documents, your application for registration is incomplete and will be returned to you for re-submission. This will delay your registration with the SACSSP.

STEP 5: Make sure that your application is complete

Double-check that you have completed the form correctly and that all the required fields (areas) are filled in correctly. Also, make sure that you have included all the required supporting documents. There is a checklist on the last page of each Form to help you with this.

STEP 6: Pay the required fees
The required fees need to be paid before submitting the application form for registration as you need to attach the proof of payment. Payment of the correct registration fee as well as the annual fee is required. See Payments for details.
REMEMBER – always include a reference number with your payment.

STEP 7: Keep a copy
It is recommended that you keep a full copy of your completed application for registration Form and your proof of payment for your own records.

STEP 8: Send it
Submit the application form for registration with all the required supporting documents as well as proof of payment to the SACSSP by registered mail or courier.

STEP 9: Monitor progress and respond to queries
Keep an eye on your Email, SMS message or mail for feedback from the SACSSP.

Please note the same steps are followed for applications for restoration, registration of specialities or applications by foreign graduates.

The requirements for the registration of social workers, social auxiliary workers, student social workers and student social auxiliary workers are set out in 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.

Social Workers

• Regulations regarding the registration of social workers (Government Notice No. R. 101 published in Government Gazette No. 34020 of 18 February 2011)

Social Auxiliary Workers

• Regulations regarding the registration of social auxiliary workers and the holding of disciplinary inquiries (Government Notice No. R. 103 published in Government Gazette No. 34020 of 18 February 2011)

Students Social Workers

• Regulations regarding the registration of student social workers and the holding of disciplinary inquiries (Government Notice No. R. 102 published in Government Gazette No. 34020 of 18 February 2011).

Student Social Auxiliary Workers

• Regulations regarding the registration of social auxiliary workers and the holding of disciplinary inquiries (Government Notice No. R.103 published in Government Gazette No. 34020 of 18 February 2011)

Specialities in Social Work

• Regulations relating to the registration of a speciality in adoption work (Government Notice No. R. 449 published in Government Gazette No 19930 of 16 April 1999)
• Regulations relating to the registration of a speciality in occupational social work (Government Notice No. R. 15 published in Government Gazette No 32886 of 22 January 2010)
• Regulations regarding the registration of a speciality in probation services (Government Notice No. 116 published in Government Gazette No. 36159 of 15 February 2013)
• Regulations relating to the registration of a specialisation in forensic social work (Government Notice No. R. 912 published in Government Gazette No 41082 of 1 September 2017)
• Regulations relating to the registration of a specialisation in clinical social work (Government Notice No. R. 913 published in Government Gazette No 41082 of 1 September 2017)

Also, see Register to Practice

PERSONS APPLYING FOR REGISTRATION FOR THE FIRST TIME:

Use this link to register: www.sacssponline.co.za

FORM R.4.SW.1 – Speciality in Social Work

The requirements for the registration of child and youth care workers (professional category), child and youth care workers (auxiliary category), student child and youth care workers and student auxiliary child and youth care workers are set out in 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.

• 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)

PERSONS APPLYING FOR REGISTRATION FOR THE FIRST TIME:

Use this link to register: www.sacssponline.co.za

The South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) is required in terms of section 19 of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 to keep separate registers in respect to the following social service professionals in a prescribed manner (in the respective Regulations):

• Social workers
• Social auxiliary workers
• Student social workers
• Student social auxiliary workers
• Child and youth care workers (professional category)
• Child and youth care workers (auxiliary category)
• Student child and youth care workers (professional and auxiliary categories)

Every social service professional in the categories indicated above is recorded in the specific Register when he or she registers or when his or her name is restored to a Register. When a person’s name appears in a Register it confirms that he or she is in good standing and meets the minimum requirements as prescribed to practice his or her profession.

Certain information on these Registers is accessible to the public to enable members of the public or any other party, for example, employers, to verify whether a person is registered.  This also helps to protect the public against false representation and safeguards the integrity of the professions registered with the SACSSP. See Search the Registers.

For the Public

Members of the public have access to the Registers kept by the SACSSP for social service professionals in terms of section 19 of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 and the applicable Regulations.

Click here to go to the Registers and type any of the following information to start the search:

• SACSSP registration number
• First name
• Surname

You can also send an email enquiry or phone the SACSSP’s offices to enquire whether a person is registered. See Enquiries.

Also, see Find a Professional.

For registered social service professionals

Registered social service professionals may LOGIN and update certain parts of their details on a Register. Following the procedures as indicated after logging in.

Also, see Change of Particulars.

Voluntary Removal

A social service professional registered with the SACSSP and who decided not to continue practicing the profession that he or she is registered for may request in writing in terms of section 20(1)(b) of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 that his or her name be removed from the Register. Upon removal of his or her name from the Register, he or she is not allowed to continue practicing or provide professional supervision or subject-related training related.

If he or she wishes to re-enter his or her profession, he or she needs to apply to be restored to the Register (see Restoration).

Removal as a penalty

A social service professional registered with the SACSSP name will be removed from the Register if a penalty for such removal was imposed in terms of section 22(1) of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 by Council after he or she was found guilty of unprofessional or improper conduct.

Removal due to non-compliance

A social service professional registered with the SACSSP name will be removed from the Register if:

• He or she fails to pay his or her annual fees by the due date in terms of section 20(1)(d) of the Act; and
• He or she fails to update his or her contact details and related particulars as prescribed in terms of section 20(1)(e) of the Act.

In such cases, a social service professional whose name is removed from the Register is not allowed to continue practicing his or her profession until he or she has rectified the reason for removal, paid the required penalties and receives confirmation from the SACSSP that his or her name has been restored to the Register (see Restoration).

Removal due to other reasons

A social service professional registered with the SACSSP name will be removed from the Register:

• in terms of section 20(1)(a) if he or she has died. It is important to inform the SACSSP of the necessary proof in this regard
• in terms of section 20(1)(f) if he or she is detained as a mentally ill person under the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002
• in terms of section 20(1)(g) if he or she obtained his or her registration fraudulently
• in terms of section 20(1)(h) if he or she has been registered in error
• in terms of section 20(1)(h) if he or she has been registered in error

Any person registered with the SACSSP may request a status report regarding his or her registration status (status). Such a request needs to be made in the prescribed format (FORM RR.2) and be accompanied by the required documentary proof (as applicable) and is subject to the payment of the prescribed fee (see Payments for details).

FORM RR.2: Application: Status Report (All professional groups)

Above to be completed by registered social workers, social auxiliary workers, student social workers, student social auxiliary work, 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 applying for a report regarding his or her registration status as prescribed in the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978.

Registration Certificates provide proof that a person is registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) a social worker, social auxiliary worker, child and youth care workers (professional category), child and youth care worker (auxiliary category), student social worker, student social auxiliary worker or student child and youth care worker (professional or auxiliary category) and that his or her name has been entered into the Register for that profession kept in terms of section 19 of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978. The validity of a Registration Certificate and the name of the person to be kept on the Register are subject to the timely payment of annual fees as prescribed (see Annual Renewal).

A social service professional registered with the SACSSP is required to display his or her Registration Certificate in his or her office or place where he or she practices the profession he or she is registered for. Persons who are registered for any speciality should also display the Registration Certificate for the speciality.

Duplicates of Registration Certificates may be requested from the SACSSP in the prescribed manner and at the prescribed fee (see Payments for details). Form RR.3 needs to be completed and submitted with the required supporting documents.

FORM RR.3: Application: Duplicate Registration Certificate or Registration Card (All professional groups)

Above to be completed by registered social workers, social auxiliary workers, student social workers, student social auxiliary work, 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 applying for a duplicate registration certificate or registration card as prescribed in the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978.

The South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) issues annually, upon payment of annual fees, a registration card to each social worker, social auxiliary worker, child and youth care workers (professional category), child and youth care worker (auxiliary category) together with the receipt of payment, that indicates that he or she is registered with the SACSSP as prescribed by the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978. The registration card provides details on the name of the person, registration number, professional status and period registered (one year).

Duplicates of Registration Cards may be requested from the SACSSP in the prescribed manner and at the prescribed fee (see Payments for details). Form RR.3 needs to be completed and submitted with the required supporting documents.

FORM RR.3: Application: Duplicate Registration Certificate or Registration Card (All professional groups)
Above to be completed by registered social workers, social auxiliary workers, student social workers, student social auxiliary work, 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 applying for a duplicate registration certificate or registration card as prescribed in the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978.