Upston LouiseSOCIAL WORKERS REGISTRATION AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingHon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Social Development and Employment): I present a legislative statement on the Social Workers Registration Amendment Bill.SPEAKER: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the parliamentary website.Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I move That the Social Workers Registration Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Social Services and Community Committee to consider the bill at the appropriate time. I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by March 2025 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting except during oral questions during an evening on a day in which there has been a sitting of the House and on a Friday in a week which there has been a sitting of the House and outside the Wellington area despite Standing Orders 193 195 and 196(1)(b) and (c).The Social Workers Registration Amendment Bill will amend the Social Workers Registration Act 2023 through a total of 16 amendments. Each change separately has a small impact but together the six policy changes and 10 technical amendments will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations carried out under the Act. This will in turn achieve better regulatory oversight of social workers involved with delivering health and social services.Social workers play a critical role in our communities throughout New Zealand. They are particularly important for providing support to some of our most under-served and marginalised members of society including children. In recent years more so than ever social workers have been critical in supporting New Zealanders such as in last year's North Island weather events. As a Government we want to ensure that the workforce of social workers is helped and empowered to meet the needs of our communities. This Government is committed to supporting earlier interventions which are more effective for those at risk. Social workers play an important role in helping to achieve this by providing vital help to New Zealanders when they need it. The Act sets out occupational regulations for the social worker profession provides mechanisms to ensure the safety of the public and enhances the professionalism of social workers. It established the Social Workers Registration Board as the regulatory authority responsible for the registration of social workers. It also set up the Social Worker Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal to exercise disciplinary powers over social workers.The Act mandates the board to conduct a review of its operations and the operation of the Act at least every five years. In 2019 the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act was passed amending the Act by bringing in mandatory registration for anyone using the title social worker" or practising as a social worker in New Zealand. The bill responds to the board's 2020 review of the Act. The 16 minor policy changes and technical amendments in this bill will streamline operations and address minor inconsistencies some of which were created by the 2019 amendments. I'd like to take this opportunity to touch on each of the six policy changes that are proposed and their rationale. Firstly the bill proposes to broaden the scope of grounds for the interim suspension of social workers where an investigation is being considered. Social workers cannot currently be suspended until a formal investigation or criminal proceedings has started. This process has a risk of serious harm to the public as social workers are not able to be suspended from work even when there are concerns around a social worker's practice and or professionalism. We are tightening up the process where social workers are accused of wrongdoing enabling them to be stood down before a formal investigation or criminal proceeding has started to reduce the risk to those served by social workers and the public.The second proposed policy amendment is to change the extension period for the interim suspension of social workers to align with periods that are reasonable and necessary for the board to complete a formal investigation and or medical examination. Currently the maximum interim suspension is 10 days per notice but investigations can take up to 18 months. This amendment will provide more certainty for suspended social workers and remove the need for multiple notices which has the potential to be inflammatory. Our bill's third policy change will allow professional conduct to committees which are determining complaints or notice of convictions to combine available outcomes rather than being restricted to choosing only one outcome and responding to and addressing complex complaints and circumstances. This will provide more flexibility for the conduct committees to take a tailored approach where needed.We also plan to enable the board to delegate its registration functions to its employed staff. Under the Crown Entities Act 2004 the appointed boards of Crown entities are usually able to delegate these functions. However the Act currently restricts the board's ability to do so. This change will reduce delays in registration processes for social workers as well as freeing up appointed board to prioritise its governance responsibilities.Another proposed policy amendment is to add a monitoring function to the board's responsibilities in relation to prescribed social work qualifications. Although this function is implied it should be made an explicit provision to provide any doubt of the board's role in monitoring and assessing social work qualifications for the purpose of registration.Finally the sixth policy amendment proposes to transfer the power from the Ministry of Social Development to the board to obtain information to investigate anyone holding themselves out as a social worker or practising as a social worker without authorisation. This amendment will bring gains in both efficiency and effectiveness by consolidating the monitoring and compliance functions under the Act. It will also provide one point of contact and operation for employers and the social services sector.This bill also proposes 10 technical amendments. These changes do not deviate from the policy intent of the impacted provisions but rather address inconsistencies created by the 2019 amendments streamline the Act's operations and update the language. This move follows wider changes to how social workers are governed that professionalise the workforce across the board. Social workers all now need to formally register with the Social Workers Registration Board and hold a practising certificate which must be renewed each year. These changes have by and large increased transparency within the social work profession and put the status of the profession alongside similar professions in health teaching and law which all have mandatory registration. This bill further contributes to the enhanced professionalisation accountability and status of social workers.It is crucial that we have a workforce of social workers that are able to serve increasingly complex and diverse needs. The 16 amendments in this bill require legislative amendment to resolve and cannot be given effect by any other means. Fit for purpose occupational regulation is an important part of ensuring the safety of both social workers and the public throughout New Zealand.I want to finish by acknowledging social worker representatives and all social workers for the vital work they do in our communities. Your tireless efforts and dedication to helping New Zealanders in need are valued and often go unrecognised. In particular I would like to acknowledge the board who has worked with officials in developing the amendments to this bill. I commend this bill to the House."