JOINT CIRCULAR

ON CODES AND STANDARDS APPLIED TO JOB TITLES OF SOCIAL WORKERS

Pursuant to the Law on Public Employees No.58/2010/QH12 dated November 15, 2010;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 29/2012/ND-CP dated April 12, 2012 on recruitment, employment and management of public employees;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 204/2004/ND-CP dated December 14, 2004 on pay policy for public officials, public employees and armed forces’ personnel; Government’s Decree No. 17/2013/ND-CP dated February 19, 2013 on amendments to some articles of the Decree No. 204/2004/ND-CP dated December 14, 2004 on pay policy for public officials, public employees and armed forces’ personnel;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 106/2012/ND-CP dated December 20, 2012 defining functions, tasks, entitlements and organizational structure of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 58/2014/ND-CP dated June 16, 2014 defining functions, tasks, entitlements and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairs;

The Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs hereby adopts a Joint Circular on codes and standards applied to job titles of social workers.

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GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope and regulated entities

1. This Joint Circular provides for codes and standards applied to job titles and appointment and salary grading for social workers.

2. This Joint Circular applies to social workers of public service providers that provide social wellbeing services.

Article 2. Codes and grading of job titles of a social worker

1. Primary social workers (grade II) (hereinafter referred to as “grade II social worker”)

Code: V.09.04.01

2. Grade III social workers

Code: V.09.04.02

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Code: V.09.04.03

Article 3. General standards in professional ethics to be satisfied by social workers

A social worker must:

1. have good political qualities and morals; follow policies of the Communist Party and State regulations.

2. place the interests of clients first, have a sense of protecting the clients' long term interests in a continuous manner; respect the clients’ rights to privacy, confidentiality and self-determination; enable clients to reach appropriate goals.

3. not take advantage of workplace relationships for self-seeking purposes, thereby affecting provision of assistance for clients.

4. show respect, solidarity and sympathy for and share with colleagues.

5. fulfill all obligations of a social worker.

6. regularly develop his/her professional expertise.

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STANDARDS APPLIED TO JOB TITLES

Article 4. Grade II social workers - Code: V.09.04.01

1. General tasks

Take charge of organizing, directing and performing social work which requires complicated theory and practice methods and skills.

2. Specific tasks

a) Organize selection, classification and receipt of clients;

b) Take charge of assessing clients’ psycho-physiological state, health, personal identity and demands for use of social work services;

c) Take charge of formulating and organizing the implementation of client assistance plan;

d) Take charge of providing social work services which require complicated theory and practice methods and skills, including: counseling, therapy, rehabilitation, education, negotiation, mediation, advocacy, dissemination;

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e) Take charge of collecting data, consolidating, analyzing and forecasting clients’ progress;

g) Assist clients in integrating into the community;

h) Take charge of reviewing, assessing and drawing on experience in social work; propose amendments to social work standards and procedures;

i) Take charge or participating in developing social work projects and themes;

k) Provide counseling about formulation of long term or short term strategies and plans for development of social work services;

l) Participating in designing social work programs, textbooks and documents and providing training in social work for social workers and social work collaborators.

3. Training standards

A grade II social worker must:

a) obtain a bachelor's degree or higher in social work, sociology, psychology, special education or social sciences suitable for social work tasks. In case of obtaining a bachelor's degree in another social science, a certificate of completion of the social work program designed by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is required;

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c) satisfy basic IT skill standards for users prescribed in the Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014;

d) obtain a certificate of training in standards applied to a grade II social worker.

4. Qualification standards

A grade II social worker must be capable of:

a) taking charge of organizing, directing and carrying out social work activities;

b) cooperating with relevant authorities, units and individuals during performance of social work tasks;

c) consolidating and generalizing professional activities in order to propose solutions for improving efficiency in carrying out social work activities;

d) providing professional guidance on social work which is suitable for his/her major.

5. Promotion to a grade II social worker

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Article 5. Grade III social workers - Code: V.09.04.02

1. General tasks

Direct performance of social work which requires basic theory and practice methods and skills.

2. Specific tasks

a) Select, classify and receive clients;

b) Assess clients’ psycho-physiological state, health, personal identity and demands for use of social work services;

c) Formulate and implement the client assistance plan;

d) Directly provide social work services which require basic social work theory and practice methods and skills such as: counseling, therapy, rehabilitation, education, negotiation, mediation, advocacy, dissemination;

dd) Supervise and review interventions as assigned; propose adjustments to the assistance plan if necessary;

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g) Collect data, consolidate, analyze and forecast clients’ progress;

h) Assess and draw on his/her experience in social work; propose amendments to social work standards and procedures;

i) Participate in developing social work projects and themes as assigned;

k) Participate in designing social work programs, textbooks and documents and provide training in social work for social workers and social work collaborators as assigned.

3. Training standards

A grade III social worker must:

a) obtain a bachelor's degree or higher in social work, sociology, psychology, special education or social sciences suitable for social work tasks. In case of obtaining a bachelor's degree in another social science, a certificate of completion of the social work program designed by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is required;

b) have a foreign language proficiency level 2 prescribed in the Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDDT dated January 24, 2014;

c) satisfy basic IT skill standards for users prescribed in the Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014.

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4. Qualification standards

A grade III social worker must be capable of:

a) independently mastering social work skills and tasks;

b) mastering practice theory and methods during performance of appropriate social work tasks;

c) taking charge and cooperating with organizations and individuals during performance of social work tasks; take personal responsibility for performance of assigned tasks;

d) providing professional guidance, sharing experience and conducting scientific research into social work;

dd) identifying clients’ demands for assistance and adopting remedial measures.

5. Promotion to a grade III social worker

A grade IV social worker will be promoted to a grade III social worker if he/she satisfies all regulations specified in Clauses 2, 3 and 4 of this Article and works as a grade IV social worker for a certain period of time. To be specific:

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a) In case he/she is holding an intermediate professional education diploma when recruited for the first time, he/she must work as a grade IV social worker for at least 03 (three) full years;

Article 6. Grade IV social workers - Code: V.09.04.03

1. General tasks

Take responsibility for performing some assigned social work which requires simple theory and practice methods and skills.

2. Specific tasks

a) Participating in selection, classification and receipt of clients as assigned;

b) Assess clients’ psycho-physiological state, health, personal identity and demands as assigned;

c) Propose and directly implement the plan for provision of assistance for clients or a group of clients as assigned;

d) Participate in providing social work services which require simple social work theory and practical methods and skills, including: counseling, therapy, rehabilitation, education, negotiation, mediation, advocacy, dissemination as assigned;

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e) Participate in assisting clients in integrating into the community as assigned;

g) Collect data, consolidate, analyze and forecast clients’ progress;

h) Take direct responsibility for performing some assigned professional social work.

3. Training standards

A grade IV social worker must:

a) obtain a intermediate professional education diploma or higher in social work, sociology, psychology, special education or other social sciences suitable for social work tasks. In case of obtaining a degree in another social science, a certificate of completion of the social work program designed by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is required;

b) have a foreign language proficiency level 1 or higher prescribed in the Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDDT dated January 24, 2014;

c) satisfy basic IT skill standards for users prescribed in the Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014;

d) obtain a certificate of training in standards applied to a grade IV social worker.

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A grade IV social worker must be capable of:

a) independently mastering social work skills and assigned social work;

b) working in a team during performance of appropriate social work tasks;

c) communicating effectively with clients;

d) identifying clients’ assistance demands.

Chapter III

GUIDELINES FOR APPOINTMENT AND SALARY GRADING BY JOB TITLES

Article 7. Rules for appointment

1. A social worker shall be appointed according to his/her assigned tasks and ability to satisfy standards applied to a social worker and Article 8 of this Joint Circular.

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Article 8. Entities eligible to be appointed to a social worker

1. A public employee who is currently holding the position of a grade II social worker (code 24.291) shall be appointed to a grade II social worker (code: V.09.04.01).

2. A public employee who is currently holding the position of a social worker (code 24.292) shall be appointed to a grade III social worker (code: V.09.04.02).

3. A public employee who is currently holding the position of a social worker (code 24.293) and a social worker who is holding an associate degree shall be appointed to a grade IV social worker (code: V.09.04.03).

Article 9. Methods for salary grading

1. Social workers shall receive the salaries paid to officials and public employees of public service providers (provided in Table 3) specified in the Government's Decree No. 204/2004/ND-CP dated December 14, 2004. To be specific:

a) A grade II social worker shall receive the salaries paid to a public employee of category A2, group 1 (A2.1). The salary coefficient ranges from 4.40 to 6.78;

b) A grade III social worker shall receive the salaries paid to a public employee of category A. The salary coefficient ranges from 2.34 to 4.98;

c) A grade IV social worker shall receive the salaries paid to a public employee of category B. The salary coefficient ranges from 1.86 to 4.06.

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When a public employee completes his/her probation period and obtains a decision of a public employee management authority on title appointment, he/she shall have his/her salary graded as follows:

a) The holder of a doctorate degree in social work shall be entitled to grade 3 and salary coefficient of 3.00 of a grade III social worker (code: V.09.04.02);

b) The holder of a master degree in social work shall be entitled to grade 2 and salary coefficient of 2.67 of a grade III social worker (code: V.09.04.02);

c) The holder of an associate degree in social work shall be entitled to grade 2 and salary coefficient of 2.06 of a grade IV social worker (code: V.09.04.03).

3. The salary grading specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall comply with the Decision No. 08/2010/TT-BNV dated August 25, 2010, Decision No. 204/2004/ND-CP dated December 14, 2004 and Government’s Decree No. 17/2013/ND-CP dated February 19, 2013. To be specific:

a) In case a public employee is eligible to be appointed to a social worker to which the same salary coefficient applies shall receive the same salary and extra-seniority allowances (if any) (including the time for considering an increase in salary scale for the next time or entitlement to extra-seniority allowance (if any)).

Example: Mr. Nguyen Van A was appointed as a social worker (code 24.292) and applied the salary coefficient of 2.66 from February 01, 2013. He is now eligible to be appointed as a grade III social worker (V.09.04.02) and is applied the salary coefficient of 3.66 from the date on which the decision on appointment is signed. The period that serves as the basis for pay raise begins from February 01, 2013.

b) In case a public employee is holding an associate degree in social work when submitting an application has had his/her salary graded A0 as prescribed in the Decree No. 204/2004/ND-CP and is now appointed to a grade IV social worker (code V.09.04.03), his/her salary is now graded according to the working period over which compulsory social insurance premiums are based by salary scale and payroll defined by the state (excluding probation period). To be specific: If determined from salary grade 2 of a social worker, after a period of 02 years (24 full months), the public employee will receive a raise of 01 salary grade (if there is an interrupted period of time for social insurance payout has not yet been paid, he/she shall receive an accumulated amount). In case of failure to complete the assigned tasks or submission to discipline during task performance, the regular time for pay raise shall be extended.

After the salary is transferred and graded into the title of a grade IV social worker mentioned above, if the salary coefficient graded for a grade IV social worker plus the extra-seniority allowance (if any) is lower than the current salary coefficient, the public employee shall receive the retained difference coefficient which is equal to the salary coefficient (including the current extra seniority allowance, if any). The public employee shall receive this retained difference coefficient during the period of time over which he/she receives the salaries paid to a grade IV social worker. After that, if the public employee is promoted, the retained difference coefficient shall be added to his current salary coefficient (including the extra seniority allowance, if any) so that he/she receives the salaries of the appointed position and stops receiving the retained difference coefficient from the date of receiving the salaries of the appointed position.

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Mr B’s working period is from January 01, 2008, excluding his 06 month probation period, if determined from salary grade 2 of a grade IV social worker and a raise of 01 grade for every 02 years, then on July 01, 2014, Mr B will have grade 5 salary and a salary coefficient of 2.66 from the date on which a decision is signed. The time for considering an increase in pay raise the next time is from July 01, 2014 while Mr B receives a retained difference coefficient of 0.06 (2.72 - 2.66).

Until July 01, 2016 (full 02 years), Mr B is eligible to have grade 6 salary and a salary coefficient 2.86 applied to a grade IV social worker and keeps receiving a retained difference coefficient of 0.06 (the total salary coefficient entitled is 2.92).

4. A social worker shall be promoted after a competent authority appoints him/her to a job title of a social worker in accordance with this Joint Circular and grades salary in accordance with Clause 2 Section II of Circular No. 02/2007/TT-BNV.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION CLAUSE

Article 10. Transitional clause

When a public employee who was appointed as a social worker under Circular No. 08/2010/TT-BNV and Circular No. 34/2010/TT-BLDTBXH is now appointed as social worker under this Joint Circular, the managing or employing authority shall enable him/her to fulfill the standards applied to the appointed position.

Article 11. Implementation

1. The public service providers shall, according to regulations of this Joint Circular, recruit, employ and manage social workers.

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3. The head of each public service provider directly managing and employing public employees shall:

a) review the positions; prepare a plan for appointment to job titles of a social worker in the providers under his/her management, and submit the plan to a competent authority for approval;

b) decide appointment to job titles of a social worker within his/her power or request a competent authority to issue an appointment decision after the plan is approved by a competent authority.

4. Ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies and People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall:

a) direct public service providers under their management to prepare plans for appointment to job titles of a social worker and grading of salaries of public employees;

b) consider approving the plans for appointment to job titles of a social worker and grading of salaries of public employees under their management who are appointed as job titles of a social worker under this Joint Circular; handle enquiries about appointment and salary grading;

c) decide appointment to job titles and grading of salaries of social workers in public service providers under their management.

d) submit reports on appointment of job titles and grading of salaries of social workers in public service providers under their management to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Article 12. Effect

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2. The Circular No. 08/2010/TT-BNV dated August 25, 2010 and Circular No. 34/2010/TT-BLDTBXH dated November 08, 2010 are null and void.

Article 13. Responsibility for implementation

1. Ministers, heads of ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities and relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for the implementation of this Joint Circular.

2. Difficulties that arise during the implementation should be reported to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration./.

PP. THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS
THE DEPUTY MINISTER




Tran Anh Tuan

PP. THE MINISTER OF LABOR, WAR INVALIDS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS
THE DEPUTY MINISTER



Nguyen Trong Dam