Social Work Tenders: SACSSP Registration and Compliance

The Demand for Statutory Social Work

Government departments alone cannot handle the caseload of child protection, foster care, and substance abuse cases. They designate private organizations and NPOs to perform these 'statutory services' on their behalf. This outsourcing creates a specific type of tender market for professional social service providers.

Compulsory Registration (SACSSP)

Social work is a regulated profession. You cannot tender to provide these services unless your key staff are registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).

• Social Workers: Must have a valid SACSSP receipt for the current year.
• Social Auxiliary Workers: Support staff must also be registered and working under supervision.
• CPD Points: Tenders will ask for proof that your staff are maintaining their Continuing Professional Development.

Child Protection Register (CPR) Vetting

Any tender involving children (ECD, foster care, youth centers) triggers a strict requirement: Form 30 Clearance.

Every single staff member—from the director to the driver—must be vetted against Part B of the National Child Protection Register to ensure they are not deemed unsuitable to work with children. Failing to include these clearance certificates (or proof of application) is an automatic disqualification.

Designated Child Protection Organizations (DCPOs)

High-level tenders (like managing foster care placements) are restricted to Designated Child Protection Organizations. This comes with extra statutory powers delegated by the Children's Act. Achieving this designation is a lengthy process involving DSD audits, but once achieved, it opens the door to ring-fenced funding.

Reporting and Accountability

Social work tenders are data-heavy. You will be required to report monthly on indicators like 'number of cases finalized' or 'number of diversions completed'. Your tender bid should demonstrate your case management systems and administrative capacity to handle this reporting burden.

Conclusion

Social work tenders deal with vulnerable lives. The strict compliance criteria—SACSSP and CPR vetting—are there to protect the public. Ensure your 'people paperwork' is as solid as your financial paperwork.