The chief executive of the Social Workers Registration Board, Sarah Clark, is welcoming funding from the Government as a step forward for the Board’s plans to operate as a modern Crown regulator.

This is the first time since the SWRB was initially established that the Government has put funding into the Board, a total of $2.358 million over four years.

This is to help meet the costs of implementing the amendments to the Social Workers Registration Act earlier this year, and also recognises our obligations as a Crown entity.

“It means we will be able to invest in a number of areas where urgent work is required,” says Ms Clark.

The funding is linked directly to what will needed to be done as a result of changes to the Act, including shifting from the voluntary registration system to one where all social workers will have to be registered by 28 Feb, 2021.

“To be able to do this, the SWRB plans to upgrade and improve its systems, develop an information campaign, and focus on other areas of work,” says Ms Clark.

The SWRB will move outdated ICT systems and processes to cloud-based software, and run an information campaign with the aim that all social workers become registered.

This funding is part of the SWRB’s wider programme of work, including developing a Scope of Practice by engaging with the sector, and new ways of assessing competence.