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$20m to groom leaders in social work sector
By Judith Tan
THE social work profession has received a $20million boost to recruit, develop and retain talent.
The money will be used to enhance the Professional and Leadership Development Scheme (PLDS) in support of social workers who want to take their careers further - by becoming specialists and supervisors.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan said over time, they will form a pool of senior social workers who are peer-selected role models to provide leadership for the social service sector.
Dr Balakrishnan said the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) will start 'a new scheme to identify these professionals and prepare them for key leadership positions in the sector'.
'We will post promising officers from MCYS and NCSS to participating VWOs (voluntary welfare organisations) to expose them to different areas of work,' he told the House.
It is important for social workers to be 'exposed to both policy perspective and ground issues' so that needy Singaporeans have more well-rounded, experienced professionals to understand and help them, he said.
To ensure the new scheme effectively meets needs on the ground, NCSS will consult VWOs before moving forward.
Its chief executive officer, Ms Ang Bee Lian, said the fresh injection of funds would build 'the foundation for future leadership in the sector that will shape social care'.
Social workers welcomed the news.
Ms Koh Sock Sim, a medical social worker with Singapore General Hospital (SGH), said the social service profession is continually changing.
'The money will certainly help us with talent development and retention,' she said.
Mrs Kim Lang Khalil, senior director with DaySpring, a home for abused girls, said the increased funding would help them introduce specialised and effective services to targeted clients.
Mr Alvin Chua, vice-president of the Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW), suggested that part of the kitty go towards helping social workers in the smaller agencies and VWOs.
They are 'often divorced' from training schemes and in need of more seasoned mentors to strengthen their professional identity, he said.
As a professional association, SASW hopes to tap into the fund and help administer some of the programmes, he added.
In the last five years, MCYS funding to social workers at VWOs has increased by up to 27per cent.
By Judith Tan
THE social work profession has received a $20million boost to recruit, develop and retain talent.
The money will be used to enhance the Professional and Leadership Development Scheme (PLDS) in support of social workers who want to take their careers further - by becoming specialists and supervisors.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan said over time, they will form a pool of senior social workers who are peer-selected role models to provide leadership for the social service sector.
Dr Balakrishnan said the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) will start 'a new scheme to identify these professionals and prepare them for key leadership positions in the sector'.
'We will post promising officers from MCYS and NCSS to participating VWOs (voluntary welfare organisations) to expose them to different areas of work,' he told the House.
It is important for social workers to be 'exposed to both policy perspective and ground issues' so that needy Singaporeans have more well-rounded, experienced professionals to understand and help them, he said.
To ensure the new scheme effectively meets needs on the ground, NCSS will consult VWOs before moving forward.
Its chief executive officer, Ms Ang Bee Lian, said the fresh injection of funds would build 'the foundation for future leadership in the sector that will shape social care'.
Social workers welcomed the news.
Ms Koh Sock Sim, a medical social worker with Singapore General Hospital (SGH), said the social service profession is continually changing.
'The money will certainly help us with talent development and retention,' she said.
Mrs Kim Lang Khalil, senior director with DaySpring, a home for abused girls, said the increased funding would help them introduce specialised and effective services to targeted clients.
Mr Alvin Chua, vice-president of the Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW), suggested that part of the kitty go towards helping social workers in the smaller agencies and VWOs.
They are 'often divorced' from training schemes and in need of more seasoned mentors to strengthen their professional identity, he said.
As a professional association, SASW hopes to tap into the fund and help administer some of the programmes, he added.
In the last five years, MCYS funding to social workers at VWOs has increased by up to 27per cent.
