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: |
Occupational Certificate: Social Auxiliary Worker |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
98890 | Occupational Certificate: Social Auxiliary Worker | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
Development Quality Partner - HWSETA (Social Work) | ||||
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
- | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
Occupational Certificate | Field 07 - Human and Social Studies | General Social Science | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 129 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 05 | Regular-ELOAC |
REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
Reregistered | EXCO 0425/24 | 2018-07-01 | 2025-12-30 | |
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
2026-12-30 | 2029-12-30 |
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 replaces: |
Qual ID | Qualification Title | Pre-2009 NQF Level | NQF Level | Min Credits | Replacement Status |
22077 | Certificate: Social Auxiliary Work | Level 4 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L4 | 120 | Complete |
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Social Auxiliary Worker. This occupation assists in the provisioning of social services and support to individuals, families, groups and communities with regards to a full range of social services and related social welfare matters. These services include but are not limited to services and support relating to: emotional trauma (life skills development/emotional stress); financial stress; recreational needs; social needs and matters relating to housing (Developmental approach). A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: A national priority in South Africa is to address the many social development needs prevalent among individuals, families, groups and communities. Social auxiliary work and social work are acknowledged as being essential to address these priority social needs. Social auxiliary work and social work are in the frontline of social development and transformation, particularly in traditionally under-resourced communities. The need for social auxiliary workers in South Africa was identified, leading to the role and functions of Social Auxiliary Work being defined in the Regulations to the Social Service Professions Act. Social Auxiliary Work is defined as "an act or activity practised by a social auxiliary worker under the guidance and control of the social worker and as a supporting service to a social worker to achieve the aims of social work". This implies that social auxiliary workers are assistants to social workers, providing support services and working under the supervision of social workers. Social auxiliary work complements and supports social work in all focus areas with services to individuals, families, groups and communities. In order to provide this assistance and support to the social work team, a qualification in social auxiliary work and registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) is necessary. This is in order to empower social auxiliary workers to assist social workers in the rendering of developmental social welfare services. This occupational certificate will enable the qualifying learner to meet the requirements for registration as a Social Auxiliary Worker with the South African Council for Social Service Professionals (SACSSP). |
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
Recognition of Prior Learning:
RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is a NQF Level 4 qualification or equivalent. |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge and Practical Skill Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 50. Practical Skill Modules: Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 33. This qualification also requires the following Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 46. |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
1. Assist in providing basic counselling and support services using the appropriate skills and techniques within recognised social welfare case management approaches.
2. Interpret and motivate the application of the key recognised theories associated with case work in social Auxiliary work. 3. Identify groups and assist in facilitating group processes to achieve a range of outcomes (Outcomes include educational and social support groups within the Professional Scope of Social Auxiliary Work). 4. Interpret and motivate the application of the key recognised theories associated with group work in line with the Scope of Practice for Social Auxiliary Work. 5. Assist in conducting community assessments and compile integrated development plans where information is appropriately collected and collated. 6. Assist in selecting the most appropriate methods of intervention to deal with a range of community development issues and scenarios. |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: Associated Assessment Criteria Exit Level Outcome 5: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6: Integrated Assessment: Integrated formative assessment: The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment. Integrated summative assessment: An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
In America the similar Occupation is Social and Human Services Assistant. Social and Human Service Assistants help determine what type of help their clients need similar to the work of the Social Auxiliary Worker in South Africa.
Social and Human Service Assistants, particularly those without any post-secondary education, undergo a period of on-the-job training. Because such workers often are dealing with multiple clients from a wide variety of backgrounds, on-the-job training in case management helps them to respond to the different needs of their clients and to crises the clients sometimes undergo. This training is provided by accredited learning institutions in the form of a course which consists of the following: All of the above mentioned aspects are covered in this qualification. The Occupational Certificate creates a much broader theoretical basis that will enable learners to obtain the required professional qualification for registration as Social Auxiliary Workers. The University of Otago in New Zealand offers a National Diploma in Social and Community Work which does show similarities with this qualification and it is pitched at a similar educational level. The contents cover the following topics: All of the above mentioned topics are covered in the Occupational Certificate. The New Zealand Diploma tends to be more academic in nature and does not include the same extent of work experience (work-based learning). Conclusion: The Occupational Certificate compares well with international qualifications and international practice. There are differences in terms of naming conventions and each country structures the qualifications to meet local dynamics and legislation. The Occupational certificate is on par with international requirements regarding professional practice. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
Horizontal Articulation:
Higher Certificate in Social Auxiliary Work, NQF Level 5 (ID 93971). Vertical Articulation: Diploma in Social Work, NQF Level 6 (ID 8151). |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
N/A |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
N/A |
NOTES |
Qualifying for external assessment:
In order to qualify for the external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of statements of results and work experience. The qualification is at NQF Level 5. Additional legal or physical entry requirements: Learners must meet the requirements for registration with the professional body as a candidate Social Auxiliary Worker. Criteria for the accreditation of providers: Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website. The curriculum title and code is: 341203000: Social Auxiliary Worker This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD: Part Qualifications: |
LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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. |
NONE |
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. |