The Gauteng Department of Social Development, Social Services, Deputy Director General (DDG) Onkemetse Kabasia has called on the National Department of Social Development and the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) to 'walk the talk' in professionalising the Child and Youth Care (CYC) Sector.
Kabasia was speaking during a virtual strategic summit on Thursday, which was attended by Cabinet Ministers, the SACSSP, Chairpersons of the Portfolio Committee, and Child and Youth Care Workers across the country.
The summit was held to address issues facing the child and youth care work profession under the theme; "The crisis in the child and youth care sector in South Africa and its impact on the welfare of children and youth".
Deliberating on the challenges and current picture faced by the sector, using Gauteng as a case study, Kabasia said a qualified Child and Youth Care Worker must obtain a National Diploma, B-Tech or a Bachelor's Degree as regulated in terms of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978.
"Currently there is an estimated under supply of one thousand (1000) Child and Youth Care Workers. It has been indicated through council resources that 72.9% of the registered child and youth care workforce is concentrated in four provinces, namely: Gauteng (32.6%), Kwa-Zulu Natal (21.3%), Mpumalanga (10%) and Western Cape (9%)," said Kabasia.
"In Gauteng we have a number of child and youth care centres that are state run. Currently, over nine hundred (900) children are accommodated at our centres and are cared for by our Child and Youth Care Workers who are employed by the Gauteng Department of Social Development."
"So far, we have about 499 Child and Youth Care Work posts that have been filled, but we have reviewed our staff establishment and we will be implementing some increases."
"As one of our interventions in Gauteng, we established a partnership with Monash University where we are training Child and Youth Care Workers to obtain degrees at the cost of the state, a fully funded bursary by the Department."
"We are paying close to R53000 for one Child and Youth Care Work student per annum for them to actually obtain their degree. So far, the department has invested R3.8million in bursaries," added Kabasia.
The child and youth care workers at professional and auxiliary levels are required by law to be registered with the SACSSP to practise their profession.
Child and youth care work is registered as a professional designation with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) under the ambit of the SACSSP.
Currently there are 147 child and youth care workers registered at professional level; 7896 at auxiliary level as well as 3367 students and learners who are completing their studies across different universities and colleges.