To develop social work towards professionalism

 As a dynamically developing province, the demand for volunteers is increasing to support disadvantaged people groups in the area, contributing to social security. However, the quantity and quality of manpower engaged in social work in the province are insufficient.

P&G Vietnam volunteers visit and present gifts to disadvantaged children in the province.

Insufficient manpower

Social work is a profession involving supporting and helping people in difficult circumstances to solve social problems related to the lives of individuals, small groups and disadvantaged communities. Binh Duong is a dynamically developing province with a population of over 2 million, of which the elderly are more than 81,000, the disabled are 16,800 people, 2,146 children in extremely difficult circumstances, and over 28,500 people receiving monthly welfare payments. This confirms that the number of social protection beneficiaries living in local community is very large and requires available staff to do social work at the grassroots level.

Currently, the province has about 1,000 people working as social workers in 13 social protection establishments (2 public and 11 non-public establishments). Nguyễn Văn Nam, Chairman of Provincial Sponsoring Association for People with Disabilities, Orphans and Poor Patients, said: “The more society develops, the greater demands for social services people have, both the poor, weak and people with high living standards”. Meanwhile, social protection establishments have the main function of nursing people having special circumstances, lacking early detection and intervention services to support reintegration. The province is in deficiency of establishments of elderly care and rehabilitation for people with disabilities. Besides, the professionalism of the social work staff is still limited, untrained or trained from many different occupations. Therefore, the capability to care for and assist people is unsustainable and does not meet current practical needs and international integration.

Nguyễn Thị Thu Trang (North Tan Uyen district), said: “My work is to approach and support orphans, disabled people, drug addicts, mentally wandering people in our commune. At first, I had many difficulties in approaching subjects. After professional training courses, my knowledge about this career has improved but skills of caring and communication are still limited”.

Nguyễn Thị Vân, an employee of provincial Social Protection Center, takes care of the helpless elderly and orphans. Her work is very strenuous, but Vân never complains and does it with all responsibility and love. Her humanitarian work has helped the elderly have a better life and children have the opportunity to integrate into the community.

The role of social work needs to be heightened

In order to well perform the care and support for social protection groups, the development of social work profession and the expansion of the network of social protection establishments is an effective solution. Currently, social work profession interests more people, but some people are still hesitant and lack of initiative in accessing social services. Hà Minh Trung, Deputy Director of provincial Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, said: “The province pay special attention to the network of social workers, as well as social assistance establishments in the province. However, in order to improve the quality and quantity of social workers, support of the whole community and attention of the political system are key factors. In addition, government, sectors, and unions need to improve the role of social work, consider results of social assistance as one of the leading criteria to evaluate social security work”.

Currently, the province has been implementing a solution that is considered a breakthrough, when focusing on training and retraining of human resources. Every year, the province cooperates with Thu Dau Mot University to provide bachelor training in social work. Graduates get arranged jobs in governmental agencies and organizations to make use of their vocational knowledge.

Reported by Kim Ha – Translated by Ngoc Huynh

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