Social Development
(a) How many (i) social workers and (ii) auxiliary social workers are employed by the Western Cape Government and (b) in what way or ways have their roles changed in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic?
a. (i) social workers - 889 and (ii) auxiliary social workers - 180
b. DSD operated with skeleton social work services at all DSD local offices, using a rotational roster in order to comply with the 1.5m social distance requirements as per the Department of Labours’ Directive on the Management of COVID in the workplace.
Offices dealt with telephonic and email enquiries, and admit members of the public for emergency matters related to DSD’s regulatory frameworks. Social workers attended to urgent child protection matters, court appearances, victim support services, child justice matters, serious elder abuse cases and any probation matters required by courts. Social Workers also assisted with the assessment and distribution of food parcels.
