SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Diploma: Social Work 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
8151  Diploma: Social Work 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National Diploma  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  480  Level 7  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 06120/18  2018-07-01  2018-12-31 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31   2023-12-31  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The purpose of the programme is to educate and train students to become competent, reflective social workers. The programme is thus intended to prepare students with competencies and specialisation for their professional role in South Africa (within the context of the international community), that constantly presents new challenges in the search for developmental strategies to address wide ranging social and community problems. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Admission of students to the programme is based on symbols attained in the final senior school leaving examination - NQF-level 4 Grade 12.

Recognition of Prior Learning:

A person who has any other qualification, which is deemed by the Senate of the University, to be on the same level as a general NQF level 4 qualification may also, after submission of proof of such qualifications, and after approval by Senate, be admitted to the programme. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
General

The programme will broadly ensure that it meets all relevant SAQA requirements especially as far as critical outcomes go. Similarly it will endeavour to meet University requirements for graduates. Students completing the programme will have a good grounding in general knowledge and skills in social work practice, as well as have developed acceptable practice values and attitudes that are demonstrate in the following:

Critical outcomes
  • Identify and solve problems, evoking responses that reflect positively the use of critical and creative thinking;
  • Work in a team setting;
  • Show good self-management ability and competence;
  • Show responsibility in managing and assessing information;
  • Have overall communication skills through multi-media techniques;
  • Use science and technology to maximum advantage, and with respect to the ecology;
  • Seeing the world as a coherent whole, and using this perception in problems solving contexts.

    Discipline specific outcomes

    The above general and critical outcomes will be manifested in the following specific outcomes:

    Social Work graduates will have knowledge of:
  • The social service delivery system in the country;
  • Relevant methods of intervention, models and approaches;
  • The ethical standards and values of the profession;
  • The history of social work as a profession;
  • 'Self' and the professional identity;
  • Basic socio-economic and political theory as reflected in societal structures and processes;
  • The phenomenon of poverty;
  • Human growth and development;
  • Basic research techniques;
  • Basic management theory, including that of personnel management;
  • Teaching and instructional theories and practice.

    Graduates will show competence in applying the above knowledge through the use of specific skills, of which the following are essential:
  • Communication (written, oral, use of)
  • Academic (cognitive, intellectual, i.e. the ability to conceptualise, analyse, read, summarise, identify, apply, synthesise, compare)
  • Numeracy (literacy, transferability)
  • Integration and research
  • Management and leadership
  • Planning
  • Organising (time-management, supervision, conflict resolution, training)
  • Entrepreneurship (information management, computer usage, professional performance). 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved:

    Modules will be monitored and evaluated on a continuing basis. Formative assessment will consist of several types of assignments, tests, presentations, research projects, etc. Classroom work and performance, and practice education and progress will be treated as a comprehensive whole, so that assessment and evaluation will be as holistic as possible. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal articulation

    (i) Students who achieve this qualification, will have access to qualifications at a lower level within the field of Social Service Professionals. Such students will retain credit for relevant modules that have been passed, after recognition by the institutions, and approval by the structures in the University and Faculties.

    (ii) The following possibilities for the continuation of studies within higher education programmes also exist:
  • Another Diploma programme at UWC or another South African Institution of Higher Learning.
  • B.A.; B.A. (Soc.Sc.) or B.A. (S.W.) at another University.
  • B.Tech. degree at any South African Technikon.

    Vertical articulation

    This qualification articulates vertically with all qualifications in the same discipline, and at the same NQF level. Students qualifying at UWC can, on meeting certain minimum qualifications be admitted to the M.A. (Social Work) programme at UWC. Additional criteria that other higher education institutions might apply will determine whether students holding this qualification, will be admitted to the next, or another qualification, at such other institution of higher learning. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The recommended moderating body for this qualification would be the Quality Assurance Body constituted by the South African Council for Social Service Professions, or such other bodies as may be recommended and recognised by the SACSSP, including other institutions of higher learning, and the Joint Universities Committee for Social Work. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The staff in the Department of Social Work, incorporated into the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, at the University of the Western Cape, will act as assessors within the quality management system of the University of the Western Cape. This quality management system includes external assessors from other universities, both nationally and internationally. As a minimum such assessors will hold at least the equivalent of a BA.Hons. degree in social work, or related field.

    Fieldwork assessment

    Assessors appointed to evaluate the field work of students must hold at least a minimum professional qualification in social work. They must be knowledgeable about the work that students are performing, and have knowledge of assessment practices, and assessment experience. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of the Western Cape 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.