Social Dimension Singapore

Practice Research in Social Work: To what end?

By Assoc Prof Timothy Sim

 

This article is developed from the keynote speech delivered for the Singapore Association of Social Workers’ Day celebration on 23^rd March 2013, with the aim to review the need for social workers to conduct practice research in social work. It begins by reviewing the development of evidence-based social work and the controversies involved. In response to the difficulties and controversies of evidence-based social work, the paper turns to the alternatives provided by practice-based evidence. This paper concludes by persuading Singapore social workers to carry out practice research by embracing both evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence so as to serve our clients more adequately and continue to learn and grow professionally.

 

Social Workers' Day 2013 Symposium

Social Dimension would like to wish its readers a Happy Social Workers Week!

Our featured video today is the keynote presentation by Assoc Prof Timothy Sim on Practice Research in Social Work, at the Singapore Association of Social Workers' (SASW) Social Workers' Day Symposium held on 23rd March 2013.

 

 

 

Jobs and Salaries of Social Work Graduates 2009-2011

by Irene Y.H Ng, Xian Jie Chan, & Amdis Chay

 

 

Introduction

    This report follows up on the repeated annual study of the jobs and salaries of social work graduates from the National University of Singapore. Graduates graduating from 2009 onwards were tracked yearly, and this report details the latest findings from the 2009, 2010, and 2011 batches.

     The purpose of the study is to look at the trends in the progress of social workers‟ salary revisions. The trends will be discussed in relation to the various measures that were introduced over the years in the social service sector that sought to address the shortfall of social workers.

 

The Inaugural ASEAN Social Work Consortium (1 - 3 March 2011)

By Amran Jamil

In March 2011, Social Work EXCO member Amran bin Jamil represented the Singapore Association of Social Workers in the first ever ASEAN Social Work Consortium held in Manila, Phillipines. 

 

The ASEAN Social Work Consortium (ASWC) held its first meeting from 1 to 3 March 2011 in Manila, the Philippines, attended by more than 70 social work practitioners, educators and policy makers from all ten Member States. ASWC represents a platform for social workers, social work educators and schools of social work to enhance quality of social work practices and policies in the region as well as to synergize ideas and initiatives to further address fellow ASEAN people’s welfare, especially the underprivileged, marginalized and disadvantaged.

Social Work as "Net" Work

Dr Vincent Chua

National University of Singapore, Department of Sociology, [email protected]

‘Social’ work is essentially, ‘net’work. Helping others often means connecting with them, asking simply: “how can I help?” Mention ‘social networks’ today, and images of the Internet and Facebook come to mind. Yet, people have networked since the beginning of time. And the practice has not stopped. If anything, tsunamis, earthquakes and other crises, have brought man to helping one another through high water and low valley.

More than technological artifacts, ‘networks’ are the everyday connections made between family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and strangers. Whether online or offline, networks are real and consequential, they are the concrete channels through which resources, whether money, emotional aid or creative ideas, flow between people. Social workers are well acquainted with the power of connect and contact in crisis. Networks are indispensable and we all need them.

The EBP (Evidence Based Practice) Spirit

By Firdawati Masri, Wong Liling & Yum Sin Ting

 

   

We carved this pumpkin!!!

Halloween is around the corner and in the midst of all our papers and mid-term exams, we still made time to soak in the ghostly atmosphere and celebration in St. Louis. Baking pumpkin muffins and roasting pumpkin seeds, carving jack-o-lanterns, decorating the house and stocking up on sugary treats.

 

An Idiot's Call to REACH OUT!

Social Dimension catches up with the inspirational Dr Timothy Sim for his expert advice on Social Work Development in Singapore.

Social Dimension: During your visits to Singapore for the various symposiums and workshops you conducted, you have been vocal in speaking out about how Social Workers in Singapore may have strayed from their true calling.

In your view, what are your thoughts about the true calling and mission of Social Workers in Singapore?

Dr Timothy Sim: You must watch the movie “3 Idiots”! I believe it answers the key question you asked. In a nutshell, we need to be passionate about what we do and reflect on the meaning of success.  What is the reason for becoming who we are and doing what we do? I think an outstanding social worker has that “idiot’s” passion to be different and to make a difference. I cried buckets watching this movie. You watch it and tell me if it does anything to you?

 

Jobs and Salaries of Social Work Honours Graduates 2008-2010

by Irene Ng & Helen Sim

 

Introduction

With the growing complexity of the needs of families seeking help, the government has taken steps to address the shortfall of Social Workers in the social service sector. With more than 60 new Social Workers projected to be needed each year (Ang, 2010), the government has revised Social Workers’ salaries twice and rolled out professionalization measures, including sabbatical leave, training schemes, accreditation and awards.

This is a report of the jobs and salaries of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Social Work graduates from the National University of Singapore. The survey asked NUS graduates for their contact information before graduation. Following graduation, an email was sent out to invite these graduates to share their occupations and salary levels. Due to low response rates from non-Honours’ graduates and graduates who did not become Social Workers, only the jobs and salaries of Honours’ graduates who became Social Workers are reported.

ACCREDITATION: A Tribute to our Social Workers & Social Service Practitioners

By Nancy Teo, 

Head, Accreditation Secretariat,

Singapore Association of Social Workers

 

On 31 March 2009, the logo of the Social Work Accreditation Board was unveiled by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports at the Social Workers’ Day Dinner at The Grassroots’ Club. The occasion also marked the launch of the Accreditation Framework for Social Workers and Social Service Practitioners by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and the Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW) on 1 April 2009.  The accreditation system replaced the registration scheme started by the SASW in 2004 for members who wished to register as Registered Social Workers (RSWs).The previous scheme attracted more than 600 RSWs.