BASW welcomes Taiwan Social Work Supervision Association

Taiwanese colleagues meet with Ruth Allen (Chief Executive), Luke Geoghan (Head of Policy and Research), Rosanne Palmer (Policy and Research Lead) and Janet Walker (Elected Director/Chair of the International Committee), listening to presentations on the development of social work and on the current approaches to social work education in the UK. There were also opportunities for discussion and sharing. 

Taiwan has a history of charitable services, particularly charitable relief to support the ‘poor’, founded on Western missionaries. Post the Second World War social work began to be developed, supported by resources provided by the United States and founded on the ‘American style’ of social work practice.  Whilst the job title of ‘social worker’ was first mentioned in 1949 in the social services department in Taipei Hospital, government departments did not establish a social work employment system until 1972. The establishment of the Taiwan Association of Social Workers as a membership organisation in 1989 has unified the social work profession, supporting the achievement of social work legislation in 1997, aimed at protecting the profession and promoting professional social work education, the establishment of a professional licensing system, and the development of a Code of Ethics. 

One of the consequences of the legislation was an increase from 9 social work programmes in 1997 to more than 30 by 2016, with the number of social work graduates exceeding 3000 every year.  However, to obtain a social work license in Taiwan candidates must pass the Senior Professional and Technical Examinations for Social Workers (SPTESW) held by the Ministry of Examination. To qualify for the SPTESW, candidates must have graduated from a social work department, or programmes approved by the Ministry of Examination and have completed two social work internships (400 hours or more). Passing the exam has proved to be challenging. 

The revision of the Social Work Act in 2009 led to regulations governed the classification and evaluation of specialist social workers in the fields of medical; mental health; child, youth, woman, and family; older adults; and disability. Social workers must have accumulated 5 years of experience in these five specialised fields and have undergone at least 150 hours of training from an organisation recognised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare within the previous 3 years, before they can enrol for the specialist social worker written examination. Candidates are granted a specialist social worker certificate after passing the examination. Specialist social workers are required to participate in continuing education courses and to renew their certificate every 6 years.

With growing social needs in Taiwan, for example a declining birth rate, an ageing population, an increase in child abuse and domestic violence, and a focus on making social work more ‘locally’ relevant, there is a concern to guide and improve the professionalisation of social work in Taiwan.  The Taiwanese Association of Social Workers, with a membership of 1100 individual member and 100 group members has recently been accepted as a member of the International Federation of Social Work (IFSW) as it seeks to reinforce its commitment to adding its ‘voice’ to the advancement of social work. 

The visit by the colleagues from Taiwan has provided an opportunity to share and learn from each other, with opportunities for further connections.  On behalf of the Delegation from Taiwan, Dr Shih-Mei Tai (Associate Professor, Ming Chuan University, Taiwan and President, Taiwan Social Work Supervision Association) has provided the following comment: 

"I would like to express my special thanks to BASW … for giving us the opportunity to review the development history of the British social work profession that we have learned in the textbooks and allowing us to better understand the importance of professional foundations, especially in the British internship education preparation and screening mechanism for becoming social workers.  This provided a good reflection for Taiwan … The Taiwan Social Work Supervision Association team members have learned so much from you all.  I am grateful to cherish our international friendship!"

----------

Thanks to Janet Walker, Chair of BASW's International Committee, for providing the above report. The full visiting delegation were as follows:

• Dr. Shih-Mei Tai, President, Taiwan Social Work Supervision Association, Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, Ming Chuan University
• Ms. Hsing-Hua Chao, Vice President, Taiwan Social Work Supervision Association
• Mrs. Yi-Hua Sun, Executive Supervisor, Taiwan Social Work Supervision Association, Section Chief, Social Affairs, Hsin Chu City Government
• Ms. Nan-Ching Lu, Director, Taiwan Social Work Supervision Association, Head of Social Welfare, New Taipei City Government
• Ms. Hsin-Yi Lin, Team Member, Taiwan Social Work Supervision Association, LSW, New Taipei City Government
• Ms. Hung-Ling Chen, Team Member, Taiwan Social Work Supervision Association, Supervision Officer, New Taipei City Government
• Ms. Jo-Ting Lin, Interpreter