Page 66 - Department of Social Development Annual Report 2021

The Department also developed the draft Monitoring
The Department, in collaboration with United Nations
Tool on the Intersectoral Protocol on the Prevention and
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and European Union (EU)
initiated and launched project on "EU global promotion
Management of Violence against Children, Child Abuse,
of best practices for children in migration” in October
Neglect and Exploitation. The Monitoring Tool will assist
with the standardised and uniform services rendered by
2020. The project covers the period from 2020 to 2023
Child Protection
all child protection stakeholders for children affected by
and will be implemented in four countries, namely;
Mexico, El Salvador, Zambia and South Africa. The overall
violence, child abuse, neglect and exploitation; and will
During the period under review, the Department
objective of the project is to ensure that children on the
also allow for monitoring of the services rendered. The
conducted capacity building on the Adoption Policy
Monitoring Tool was consulted with all provinces and it
move are effectively protected and their rights are being
Framework and Strategy, Guidelines and Training Manual
will be approved in the new financial year.
realised.
and the Register of Adoptable Children and Prospective

Adoptive Parents (RACAP). In this regard, a total of 432
Professional Social Services and Older Persons
The project will directly affect and engage with the
Social Workers in eight provinces, except for
following stakeholders;
Mpumalanga, were capacitated on both the Framework
During the reporting period, the Department finalised the
• Duty bearers being officials at a regional, nation-
and the Strategy.
Social Service Practitioners Draft Bill. The draft Bill was
al, provincial, local level and media, public
approved by Cabinet in the 2019/20 financial year, and
frontline officers and staff (police, civic and
The capacity building on the Framework and Strategy
subsequently gazetted for public comments. Comments
immigration officers, social workers, etc.),
was conducted to empower and enable Social Workers to
were received from individuals, South African Council for
• Stakeholders such as International Organization
provide adoption services as required by the Legislation.
Professions
Service
(SACSSP),
Social
for Migration (IOM), United Nation High
Furthermore, training on the RACAP was conducted to
groups
supporting
interest
institutions,
certain
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other
assist the Social Workers when they match children with
occupations, national and provincial departments, local
organisations that are part of national, regional
adoptive parents. The training also ensured that the
municipalities and professional networks.
or global policy and strategy processes, and
principle of subsidiarity as required by Legislation is
• Children on the move include migrant, internally
adhered to. The principle requires that children should
Public comments served as basis for redrafting the Bill
displaced, stateless, returnee, asylum seekers
be placed locally, and all avenues must be explored
with the support of sector legal services at both national
and refugee children, as well as children who
before considering intercountry adoption option. Section
and provincial departments. The draft Bill was
move voluntarily or involuntarily, within or
232 of the Children’s Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005)
subsequently submitted to the Office of the Chief State
between countries, with or without their parents
requires the Director–General to keep and maintain a
Law Advisor (OCSLA). The Socio Economic Impact
or other primary caregivers, and whose
Register on Adoptable Children and Prospective Adoptive
Assessment (SEIAS) report was also developed and
movement may open opportunities, but might
Parents (RACAP) for the purpose of keeping a record of
submitted to the Department of Performance Monitoring
also expose them to risks (or to an increased
adoptable children and a record of fit and proper
and Evaluation for certification. The Bill will be
risk) of economic or sexual exploitation, abuse,
adoptive parents. RACAP training provided guidance to
submitted to Cabinet in the new financial year.
neglect and violence.
adoption service providers regarding the implementation
of the adoption processes.
The Department continues to monitor implementation of
Throughout the process, UNICEF will provide support to
the Social Service Professions Act, 1978 (Act No. 110 of
the national child protection system to effectively
During the reporting period, a total 849 adoptions were
1978) and related regulations. The Act provides for the
provide services to these children. They will also work
registered, which includes 799 national adoptions and 50
establishment of the SACSSP which is entrusted with the
with authorities, media and service providers to address
intercountry adoptions. Furthermore, a total of 166
regulation of social service practice and social service
the barriers such children may face in accessing
adoption service providers were accredited, that number
professionals (Social Workers and Child and Youth Care
comprehensive birth registration and other basic
includes 128 Child Protection Organisations and 38
Workers).
services.
Social Workers in private practice. To this end, the RACAP
was managed with 264 children and 80 parents
In regulating social service professionals, the SACSSP;
The Department developed a draft Monitoring Tool on
registered respectively.
•
determines minimum qualifications,
the implementation of Guidelines on Community Based
required registration,
•
Prevention and Early Intervention Services to Vulnerable
The Children's Second Amendment Act, 2016 (Act No. 18
•
develops and maintains registers for social
Children. The Tool aims to support community-based
of 2016) included Department of Social Development
workers and child and youth care workers,
organizations that provide services to Orphan and
(DSD) Social Workers in the definition of an adoption
sets standards for education and training of
•
Vulnerable Children (OVC), by improving routine
Social Worker. The regulations pertaining to the
social service professionals; and
monitoring system and the collection of information that
registration of specialty in adoption work requires Social
monitors compliance with code of ethics and
•
is fit for purpose, including information for identifying
Workers to be registered with the South African Council
standards for professional conduct.
beneficiaries, case management and routine programme.
for Social Services Profession (SACSSP). Registration
Furthermore, the Tool will ensure that there is uniform
renewal and payment of 191 DSD Social Workers was
Social Workers and Child and Youth Care Workers are
and standard information collected in the provinces,
effected with the SACSSP as adoption specialists. A total
expected to pay approved prescribed annual fees to the
which will be used to evaluate and determine what works
of 105 children were repatriated through International
Council. In this regard, regulations on fees payable for
and keep programming on track and ensuring positive
Social Services to Lesotho and Zimbabwe while three
the 2021/22 financial year were developed and gazetted
impacts on OVCs and families.
were repatriated into the country, two being from
for public comments. Once finalised, these regulations
Zimbabwe and one from Uganda.
PART B: PERFORMANCE INFORMATION academic
PERFORMANCE BY PROGRAMME
will guide specific amounts payable for, amongst others, protection of older persons. The Older Persons provinces. Relevant information on preventative with gang influences. All children who are admitted into
registration of professionals in various categories of Amendment Bill was presented to the Technical Working measures including WHO Protocols were disseminated to secure care facilities are profiled. The purpose of the
social service professions. Group (TWG) of the SPCHD and SPCHD Cluster. The Bill residential facilities for Older Persons through the profiling is to ensure that the needs that make them join
received approved for it to be presented to Cabinet for provinces, to ensure adherence with to protocols. gangs additional to their detention orders are assessed as
During the reporting period, the term of office of the approval to be introduced to Parliament. part of intervention to be provided during detention in
current members of the Council and Professional Boards Residential facilities were prioritised according to secure care. This is also aimed at protecting other
for social work and child and youth care work was In 2018/19, the Department finalised the Implementation infections and inability of facilities to control infection, children under DSD care who are not into gangsterism
extended for 12 months, effective from June 2021 to Evaluation of the Older Persons Act, 2006 (Act No. 13 of leading to deaths, screening and testing challenges etc. from the positively profiled children not to recruit them.
June 2022. In preparation for the appointment of new 2006). The Implementation Evaluation was aimed at In addition, National Institute for Communicable
members of Council and Professional Boards, approval assessing how the Older Persons Act is being Diseases (NICD) developed an online hospital Another key area that was monitored was the existence of
was also granted to develop Induction Policy and implemented and how it can be improved. The surveillance platform for Covid-19, called DATCOV19, in the multi-disciplinary team and its functionality within
Procedure Manual. The new members will assume office Evaluation Report and Improvement Plan were presented which the information on admitted patients was the facilities. The functionality of multi-disciplinary team
at the end of the extended period of the existing to the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the SPCHD and submitted by health care workers in sentinel surveillance is one of the systems in the secure care programme and is
members. SPCHD Cluster and Cabinet. Cabinet approved both the sites that allows analysis of risk factors for severe integral to the prevention of gangsterism. The monitoring
Evaluation Report and Improvement Plan with the disease and mortality. This assisted the Department to also assessed the empowerment of staff to be able to
The Department developed the White Paper for Social following recommendations; know the data on infections, death and recoveries. deal with children that incite other children to join gangs.
Development. The White Paper was extensively • for more consultation with the sector to Among others, the monitoring process identified the
consulted with various stakeholders, including provincial develop an implementation plan with roles Families and Social Crime Prevention followings;
departments of social development, other national and responsibilities of key government • some provinces did not have approved admission
government departments, civil society organisations, departments. During the reporting period, the Department conducted policies,
non-governmental organisations, research institutions • the implementation plans should inform how consultations with all provinces on the reviewing • other provinces were using assessment processes or
and institutions of higher learning, the SACSSP, budget will be ring-fenced for Older Persons of the Integrated Social Crime Prevention Strategy. procedures not approved by the Department,
professional associations and other critical stakeholders. programmes, The purpose of the consultations was to explore the • lack of staff empowerment to deal with children that
The White Paper provides a new vision and broad goals • the plan should be aligned with the approach inherent and proactive approaches to implementing incite other children to join gangs,
that will provide direction to the country on social of the District Development Model with the strategy in South Africa. A consolidated report on • there is no standard specification on professional
development beyond the social welfare realm. It aligns respect to combating Gender-Based Violence the consultations with provinces on the reviewing of restrain to disarm children or prevent gangsterism,
well with the seven priorities Government aspires to (GBV), addressing the plight of older women the Strategy was compiled. The report outlines the • most provinces were trained over three years ago on
achieve in the next five years. It also sets the basis for the given the spate of rape crimes and ensuring challenges, achievements, lessons learnt and makes techniques for professional restrain of children in
development of a national overarching social integrated governmental approach towards recommendations for effective implementation of the the event there is violence by children, and
development legislation, which will provide a unified strengthening the provision of service to Older strategy. • there is no total quality management or an approved
system to guide the provision of comprehensive, Persons. policy for support by relevant stakeholders in the
integrated, rights based, well-resourced quality social The report further recommends continued event of violence as a result of gang influences
development services. The White Paper was presented A national consultative workshop was conducted in implementation of the Strategy to curb social ills that
before the Technical Working Group and the SPHCD March 2021 with the various stakeholders within the are a contributory factor to the committal of crime As a result, some provinces have developed admission
Social Clusters and was endorsed to proceed to Cabinet sector including all provincial departments of Social and violence in South Africa. The consultation report policies due for approval, while others also developed
for approval. The applicable documents have been Development, Offices of the Premier, other key will be used to map the next stages of the reviewing standard operating procedures.
prepared and approved for presentation to Cabinet. government departments as well as non-governmental of the Integrated Social Crime Prevention Strategy,
organisation, to develop the Implementation Plan. The as well as ascertaining ownership, collaboration and Substance Abuse and CDA
In preparation for the effective implementation of the Implementation Plan will be presented to FOSAD for partnership amongst government departments, civil
White Paper, the Department developed a draft endorsement and a progress report will be submitted to society organization and private sector to respond. Policy and Legislation
implementation plan. The implementation plan was Cabinet as part of the National Evaluation Plan (NEP). These initiatives contribute towards priority 5 on Social
consulted with all provincial departments of social cohesion and safe communities. The Policy on the Prevention of and Treatment for
development. The plan provides for the implementation The Department finalised the re-development of the Substance Use Disorders was developed and finalised
of the White Paper by Departments of Social Older Persons Abuse Register (OPAR). A total of seven During the period under review, the Department during the period under review. The development of the
Development at all spheres of government, other provinces were trained on the improved OPAR system monitored the implementation of the DSD Policy is part of the process to review the Prevention of
government departments with responsibility for the .The remaining two provinces will be considered for Anti-Gangsterism Strategy. The Strategy was monitored and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act, 2008 (Act No. 70
delivery of social welfare services, non-governmental training in the new financial year. in six provinces namely; Eastern Cape, Limpopo, of 2008). The Act focuses on scaling up prevention,
organisations and community-based organisations. KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. treatment and rehabilitation strategies in order to
Further consultations will be conducted with all critical In responding to Covid-19 pandemic, the Department Monitoring reports on the implementation of the strategy address the scourge of alcohol and drug abuse in the
stakeholders in order to realise the effective and efficient partnered with Department of Health (DoH) to support in Secure Care Facilities were submitted by provinces. country. The Policy will be tabled for approval in Cabinet
implementation thereof. residential facilities in dealing with the pandemic. The Over and above the six targeted provinces that were during the 2021/22 financial year. The development of
Department of Health in line with the World Health monitored, the Free State, North West and Northern Cape the Policy for substance abuse contribute to the
During the reporting period, the Department finalised the Organisation (WHO) protocols on Covid-19, developed provinces were also monitored, and they submitted the government priority 4: “Consolidating the Social Wage
Older Persons Amendment Bill, 2020. The Older Persons guidelines, tools and training programmes for the reports on implementation of Anti-Gangsterism in the through Reliable and Quality Basic Services” through the
Amendment Bill is aimed at tightening the gaps in the residential facilities. Furthermore, an action plan on provinces secure care facilities. development of an effective policy framework that will
Older Persons Act, 2006 (Act No. 13 of 2006) to ensure Covid-19 response was developed and consulted with The key areas that were monitored included all facilities address the impact of alcohol and substance abuse to
that are to put in place systems and techniques to families, communities and society.
prevent gangsterism and uphold the welfare and safety of
children already in the facilities from those who come
66 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21