Strengthening Social Welfare Workforce Capacity in Sub Sahara Africa through Para

Social Work Twinning Partnerships

Nathan L. Linsk, Ph. D. Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center, University of Illinois at Chicago

Satellite Session on Twinning s XIX International AIDS Conference s Washington, DC s 25 July 2012

University of Illinois at Chicago

Nigerian Academic Partnership for Para Social Work

Presentation Overview

• What is Social Welfare System Strengthening?

• Twinning Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare Workforce Capacity

• Recommendations for Sustainable Capacity Building Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare Workforce Capacity

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

1. What is Social Welfare System Strengthening?

• The Social Welfare Workforce--A new buzzword?– The social service workforce describes a variety of workers –

paid and unpaid, governmental and non-governmental – who staff the social service system and contribute to the care of vulnerable children and families.

– Includes social workers, social welfare officers, but also others who play these roles– local leaders, municipal/district executive, community development workers.

– Often para-professionals are included by various names: para-social workers, child and youth care workers, community development workers, child and family probation officers.

Role of social work in Social Welfare Workforce

• Helping those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged begins in family and community

• When this is not fully possible…– We build a social welfare support structure

• This involves many-- not only social work• But social work is the profession dedicated to developing,

administrating programs and services, systems to meet those needs when family and community need that support

• Terms “social service workforce” and “social welfare workforce” are both used—social welfare may refer to the larger structure and is used in this presentation

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Emergence of Social Welfare/Social Service System Strengthening Initiatives

• Global Conference in South Africa, November 2010, organized by Technical Working Group for children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS associated with PEPFAR (USAID funded)

• Focus on highlighting crisis in providing services needed by vulnerable children at a country and global level as

• Objective to develop and share a growing body of knowledge and resources to support efforts to strengthen the social welfare workforce to assist vulnerable children and their families

• Global Social Service Workforce Alliance established to provide follow-up and increase attention and support to the workforce responsible for the care and protection of vulnerable children and families

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Social Welfare Workforce Strengthening Framework: A framework for investing in those who care for children

Source: November 2010 Social Welfare Systems Strengthing Conference, Capetown, S. Africa. Conference Report-- AIDS-STAR 2

The Social Service Workforce: Challenges• Attracting and retaining qualified workers--Vacancy

rates for professional and para-professional positions within Africa range from 50%–60%, half of those employed leave their jobs within five years

• Limited workforce planning• Developing workforce staffing plans-- schemes of

service, job descriptions, civil service programs, etc. at government & local levels. Often may include unrealistic realistic implementation.

• Limited education opportunities to prepare and meet demands for social welfare workers

• Those who receive education attracted to other fields

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

The Social Welfare Workforce: Challenges, continued

• Resources for Education and Training (financial & materials) and harmonization across varying projects

• Certifying of workers who have completed the programs (by whom? How?) and accrediting programs

• Incentives for the workers (salaries, supplies, transport, support)

• Ongoing supervision• Sustainability

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

2. Twinning Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare Workforce CapacityOverview of Partnership Models

• AIHA has established 3 Twinning Partnerships that address social work and social welfare workforce issues

• Initial partnership developed in Tanzania with Institute of Social Work. Each has emerged and collaborated with the others but suggest different strategies that may be adapted to country contexts

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Who is a Para Social Worker?(Psychosocial Care Worker in Ethiopia!)

Staff or volunteers of non-governmental, government and community organizations who have received training to assist in the delivery of social services.

Para Professionals with an array of basic service skills. They may assess needs, provide support and refer clients to needed services.

Equipped to work under supervision of a trained supervisor to support vulnerable children, People Living with HIV and their families, but do not substitute for professionally prepared practitioners.

May include Community-based volunteers, Home-based care workers, Nurses, Charities, societies and association workers, etc.

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Key Partners• Communities, Local Government, NGOs, Traditional Leaders

• African Schools of Social Work – Tanzania: Institute of Social Work

– Ethiopia: Addis Ababa University School of Social Work

– Nigeria: Federal School of Social Work, Department of SW, University of Nigeria Nsukka

• Ministries with specific charge to address vulnerable children and families (e.g.Health and Social Welfare (Tanzania), Labor and Social Affairs (Ethiopia), Womens Affairs and Social Development (Nigeria)

• Other key government ministries

• PEPFAR, USAID, and HRSA

• American International Health Alliance-Twinning Center

• US Partners: Jane Addams College of Social Work, MATEC, consortium of consultants

• Other major NGOs (e.g. IntraHealth-Tanzania Human Resource Capacity Project in Tanzania, PACT, FHI in Ethiopia, etc.)

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Supporting Social Work Education(TESWEP)

Improving services for

most vulnerable children:

para- professional training and

infrastructure development

Strengthening the Profession: Social Work

Association (TASWO)

Need for a Three Leg ModelThe Social Work Partnership for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Tanzania

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Project Implementation

• Integrated case management model• In collaboration within the existing social

welfare structure • System for supervision, follow up,

and quality management

How?

Introduction to Para-Social Work Training Supervised field experience (6 months) Para-Social Work II: Enhanced Practice Skills Additional support and consultation Social Welfare Assistant Program (Certificate)

How?

Introduction to Para-Social Work Training Supervised field experience (6 months) Para-Social Work II: Enhanced Practice Skills Additional support and consultation Social Welfare Assistant Program (Certificate)

Training Components/Curricula 1)Equipped to Care: Building Skills to Assist Vulnerable Children and Families Affected by HIV (Introduction to PSW—8-10 days) : focuses on teaching beginning case management skills within the context of HIV-related issues and child development. Key topics include: outreach, engaging children and families, assessment and service planning, ongoing service management and follow-up (all 3 countries)

2)Supervising Para-Social Work at the Village Level (4-5 days): focuses on training selected PSWs in supervisory skills to assume oversight of their PSW trainee colleagues. Supervisors complete the initial PSW Course, followed by an additional 4-day supervisory training that includes content presentations and case-based skills (all 3 countries)

3) Supervised Field Work Experience (6 months)

4) Practice Skills to Intervene with Most Vulnerable Children and Families (5 days). Provided to PSW trainees after six months or more of supervised practice . Sample content: Reducing stigma, Collaboration with local governments, Legal and Policy Update, Care, support for HIV+ children, Improving Assessment Skills, HIV risk reduction (Tanzania, Nigeria)

5) Social Welfare Assistant Certificate (1 year including field practicum) Preparation for paid employment in social welfare system (Tanzania, Nigeria?)

Roles within Social Welfare SystemSocial

Welfare Officer

(District/Local Levels)

• Fully qualified (Advanced Diploma or BSW or equivalent)• Employed at Government Level• Legal Responsibilities include child protection, oversight of

facilities, focster care, placement (Child Act)• Supervise Social Welfare Officer

Social Welfare Assistant (Ward

or Village Levels)

• Completed 1 Year Accredited Certificate• Para Social Work experience or equivalent• Work under supervision of Social Welfare

Officer and perform related services • Supervisor Para Social Worker

Para Social Worker (Village

Level)

• Complete 3 part PSW Training (I, II, Practicum)

• Provide direct services—outreach, assess, service plan and case management

• Supervision by Social Welfare Assistant

Tanzania Model

Para Social Worker

Client Project coordinator

PSWSupervisor

Program Focus and Number of Participants

Tanzania Ethiopia NigeriaFocus Expand social welfare

workforce to address most vulnerable children by creating career opportunities through para-social work, social welfare assistants working with local government and Department of Social Welfare (MOHSW)

Provide supplemental training to existing volunteers and staff at community level to enhance psychosocial services to people living with HIV

Develop a cadre of volunteers to work with vulnerable children and families emerging from local communities emphasizing those with commitment and passion to ongoing services.

Number PSW I – > 3500PSW II – >1800 (completers)Supervisors-- >500

420 170 completed50 in process (PSW I only)

Selection and Supervision Tanzania Ethiopia NigeriaSelection through Local Government Authority, Targets individuals qualified for government service (< age 35), complete secondary school (form 4).

Broad outreach to community organizations, work with health officers to identify participants

Selection made by Traditional leaders in consultation with Local Government; [participants over age 18 and completed secondary school.].

Supervision done by trained supervisors selected by Local Government (soon to be by Social Welfare Assistants)

Supervisors come for training with participants from community organizations

Supervision under oversight of Schools of Social work

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Program SupportTanzania Ethiopia NigeriaVolunteer program, support provided mostly at local level and by PSW Association with project help from partner staff. May apply to become Social Welfare Assistants (1 year certificate)

Mixed program, support provided by local organizations with some assistance through project staff.

Support through PSW Association, Schools of Social Work (supervisors of supervisors) and project staff

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Monitoring and Evaluation Tanzania Ethiopia NigeriaPre-post training evaluation and follow-up visits. Supervisor reports. Currently assessing methods to measure long-term program achievements (not quite outcomes)

Pre-post training evaluation, follow-up visits planned

Pre-post training evaluationSupervisor reports.Ongoing monitoring of service plans and assessments through Learning Resource Center.

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3. Recommendations for Sustainable Capacity Building Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare

Workforce Capacity• Usual approach: provide technical support to develop a

program and then try to shift responsibility to local partners• However the more success there is the more will be the

demand for more activity (opposite is probably also true)• Local partners likely to have other pressing demands and

priorities (teaching, accreditation, personal need for funding, etc.)

• Withdrawal of partner presence may be seen as lack of confidence in local ability to maintain involvement

• Local partners may need considerable support to take advantage of new funding opportunities, networking with donors, more direct funding that may lead to sustainability

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Some Issues and Suggestions for Sustainable Capacity Building

• Clarity about sustainability development from the beginning of partnership

• Build sustainability, evaluation and technology transfer into the work plan

• Transparency about budget resources and challenges

• Anticipate changes in leadership, particularly for educational advancement

• Anticipate to get local partner to engage in social welfare workforce activities will need modeling, encouragement and ongoing supportXIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

How Twinning Projects Ensure Sustainable Capacity Building Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare

Workforce Capacity

• Clarity of program focus, objectives emerging from local needs and demands

• Collaborative program development (training, infrastructure, evaluation)

• Comprehensive focus: training, infrastructure, generating national support (financial and policy)

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Towards Sustainable Capacity Building Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare Workforce Capacity

• Inclusion of (a) service improvement; (b) educational structure; (c) professional network (3 legs)

• Incentives and support for ongoing service delivery

• Maintenance plan including replacement training, supervision, encourage further education and career development

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Watoto Kwanza!Children First!!

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012