SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY

By Mashudu Mzimba

• At the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Johannesburg, the Department of Social Development (DSD) is advancing a new strategy for employing social service professionals, as detailed by Ms. Amanda Vokwana.
• The strategy, approved by Cabinet in February 2024, involves the creation of a Task Team and an Inter-Ministerial Committee to oversee and monitor its implementation. It also includes a collaborative effort with multiple government departments and stakeholders.
• Key objectives include improving workforce data collection, bridging the gap between high demand and limited supply of trained professionals, and leveraging private sector involvement. Additionally, non-profit organisations play a crucial role, despite facing funding challenges.

During the ongoing workshop at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Johannesburg, significant progress is being made towards implementing the recently approved strategy for employing social service professionals. Ms Amanda Vokwana, Director of Organisational Design and Human Resource Planning at the Department of Social Development (DSD), outlined pivotal next steps for the strategy’s rollout. “Our immediate focus will be on facilitating bilateral stakeholder engagement to explore funding opportunities and employment solutions for social service professionals,” Ms Vokwana stated.

She emphasised the establishment of a dedicated Task Team to oversee the strategy’s execution and the formation of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to monitor progress across various government departments. Additionally, Ms Vokwana highlighted the need to gather comprehensive workforce data across the non-profit sector to better understand employment capacity and needs. These actions aim to enhance coordination and bridge the gap between the high demand for social services and the available workforce.

The strategy, approved by Cabinet in February 2024, involves a collaborative effort led by DSD and includes multiple stakeholders such as the Departments of Basic Education, Justice, Defence and Military Veterans, the South African Police Service, Health, Correctional Services, and the South African Council for Social Service Professionals (SACSSP), alongside various non-profit organisations. Ms Vokwana noted that the strategy aligns with Chapter 11 of the National Development Plan (NDP), which focuses on social protection and intersects with other key areas like the economy, employment, social welfare, education, health, and infrastructure.

Integral to the strategy is addressing the gap between the high demand for social services and the limited supply of trained professionals. “Our government-wide strategy aims to bridge this gap by improving our understanding of the social services workforce and using evidence-based approaches to shape future workforce needs,” Ms Vokwana explained. Another crucial aspect is leveraging the private sector to employ social service professionals and support community-based organisations (CBOs) and non-profits (NPOs) in their communities.

In conjunction with these efforts, Ms Nobulali Mfengu, Social Work Manager at DSD, provided valuable insights into the role of NPOs in supporting the strategy. Ms Mfengu highlighted the essential contribution of NPOs to community empowerment and well-being. “NPOs promote community empowerment and contribute to building healthy communities,” she explained, emphasising their role in addressing social, economic, cultural, and environmental issues. However, she acknowledged the challenges faced by NPOs, including increased demand for services and reduced funding from international donors due to the global economic recession and the Covid-19 pandemic. “The demand for social services far exceeds the available funding,” she stressed.

Ms Mfengu outlined the partnership between DSD and the NPO sector, noting that DSD annually transfers subsidies to qualifying entities to provide social services to vulnerable populations. These transfers are governed by specific norms, standards, and the Sector Funding Policy. “The role of NPO funding is crucial in creating employment opportunities for social service professionals; the nature of the work conducted by NPOs in the social services sector aligns closely with DSD’s goals,” she said. By funding NPOs, DSD aims to reach more beneficiaries and address its constitutional mandate.