Call for expressions of interest
He ara pūkenga, he ara tauwhiro, hei whakamana mātā waka
The many pathways to knowledge, the many pathways of social work, upholding the dignity of all
We are looking for an experienced tangata whenua social worker to support the Social Workers Registration Board’s review of its Programme Recognition Standards (PRS).
What are our Programme Recognition Standards (PRS)?
All social work programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand must meet the SWRB Programme Recognition Standards (PRS) to continue to be recognised.
The Programme Recognition Standards (PRS) enable us to prescribe qualifications for social work in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Board uses PRS to assess education providers to ensure they deliver a social work degree that
- meets the principles under the Social Workers Registration Act and the scope of practice
- that enables graduates to meet professional standards for entry into the social work profession such as the Code of Conduct and the Ten Core Competencies.
These standards are scheduled for review on a four-year cycle: this current review process was originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to requirements of pandemic response.
Te Ao Māori He Ara Pūkenga – framework for the review
For the current review of the PRS, we are committed to a process of sector engagement underpinned by the principles and structure of He Arapaki, The SWRB Māori Development Strategy and Action Plan. He Arapaki is informed by our whakataukī – He ara Pūkenga, He Ara Tauwhiro, Hei Whakamana Mātā Waka – and its core values of Matatika, Manaaki, Mahitahi and Māia.
This review will therefore be led jointly by co-leaders representing tangata whenua and tangata tiriti, working with the SWRB review team. Additionally, there will be initial and ongoing engagement with a tangata whenua rōpu contracted by the SWRB, and the SWRB Kāhui, who will all be integral to the facilitation and development of advice to the SWRB Board. A diverse reference group will also be called for to ensure the voices of Pacific peoples and diverse cultural groups are heard through the review.
The review process will start with a hui kanohi-ki-te-kanohi for tangata whenua facilitators and SWRB review rōpu to wānanga and consider the proposed structure and process, develop Terms of Reference, and co-develop the pātai for proposed wānanga.
At present, six wānanga are being proposed, based around the existing six standards of governance, curriculum, field education, admission criteria, professional and stakeholder collaboration, and staffing resources. The six existing standards are a starting point for wānanga but they are not necessarily the kupu for the future standards.
Each day-long hui will be facilitated by two tangata whenua social workers, bringing together tangata whenua and tangata tiriti reflection groups, unified by whakawhanaungatanga.
The role of the co-leader
We are looking for a tangata whenua co-leader with significant experience in the social work sector. Experience in education would also be desirable.
This is a paid, fixed-term role. The initial expectation is that this would be a time commitment of two days per week from mid-January through to end of June. The pattern of work may vary according to the workload with a peak of activity expected between February to April.
The person can be home-based but with the expectation of travel to the SWRB PRS rōpu and tangata whenua hui (two are planned currently).
This call has now closed.
Updated 17 January 2022
