Joint Circular No. 09/2013/TTLT-BLDTBXH-BNV guides the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of public social work service centers under the People's Committees of districts.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Public Social Work Service Centers

Providing social work services

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Pursuant to Decree No. 106/2012/NĐ-CP dated December 20, 2012, of the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs;

Pursuant to Decree No. 61/2012/NĐ-CP dated August 10, 2012, promulgated by the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairs;

Pursuant to Decree No. 68/2008/NĐ-CP dated May 30, 2008 of the Government stipulating conditions, procedures for establishment, organization, operation, and dissolution of social welfare facilities;

Pursuant to Decision No. 32/2010/QĐ-TTg dated March 25, 2010 of the Prime Minister approving the Project on Developing Social Work Profession for the period of 2010-2020;

The Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Minister of Interior jointly issue this Circular guiding the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Public Social Work Service Centers.

Article 1. Scope of regulation and applicable subjects

Thông tư này quy định chi tiết khoản 4 Điều 38 Luật Thủy sản số 18/2017/QH14 đã được sửa đổi, bổ sung tại điểm c khoản 21 Điều 14 Luật số 146/2025/QH15.

This Circular guides the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure; conditions, authority, files, procedures for establishment and dissolution; agencies and responsibilities for reviewing files of Public Social Work Service Centers (hereinafter referred to as Social Work Centers).

Thông tư này áp dụng đối với tổ chức, cá nhân có liên quan đến hoạt động kinh doanh đối tượng thủy sản nuôi chủ lực trên lãnh thổ Việt Nam.

This Circular applies to Public Social Work Centers under the People's Committees of districts, towns, cities directly under provinces (hereinafter referred to as District People's Committees), established by the District People's Committee in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 2. Position and Functions of Social Work Centers

1. Social Work Centers are public service units under the District People's Committee.

2. Social Work Centers have the function of providing social work services; they have legal personality, seals, offices, and separate bank accounts.

Article 3. Name of Social Work Centers

The common name of the Center is Social Work Center. Depending on the actual conditions of each locality, the name of the Social Work Center can be supplemented with the group of beneficiaries, including: Social Work Center (including multiple groups of beneficiaries); Child Social Work Center (child group); Elderly Social Work Center (elderly group); Disabled Social Work Center (disabled group) or other appropriate names.

Article 4. Beneficiaries of Social Work Centers

The beneficiaries of Social Work Centers include one or more of the following groups:

1. Individuals requiring urgent protection as specified in Clause 2, Article 5 of Decree No. 68/2008/NĐ-CP dated May 30, 2008 of the Government stipulating conditions, procedures for establishment, organization, operation, and dissolution of social welfare facilities;

2. Elderly people, disabled individuals, mentally ill persons, persons with mental disorders, HIV/AIDS patients, poor people, children, victims of gender discrimination; drug addicts, sex workers; former drug rehabilitation participants; parents or caregivers of children requiring urgent protection;

3. Other individuals requiring social work services (hereinafter collectively referred to as beneficiaries).

Article 5. Tasks and Powers of Social Work Centers

1. Providing emergency services

a) Accepting beneficiaries requiring urgent protection, including: abandoned children; victims of domestic violence; sexual abuse victims; trafficking victims; forced labor victims;

b) Assessing the needs of beneficiaries; screening and classifying beneficiaries. In necessary cases, transfer beneficiaries to healthcare facilities, educational institutions, police, judicial authorities, or other relevant agencies and organizations.

c) Ensuring safety and meeting urgent needs of beneficiaries, including temporary accommodation, food, or clothing, travel expenses. The duration of temporary stay shall not exceed 30 days; in necessary cases, the extension of care time at the Center must be decided by the head of the direct superior management agency of the Social Work Center.

d) Providing initial medical treatment services.

2. Counseling and treating mental disorders, psychological crises, and physical recovery for individuals.

3. Advising and assisting individuals to benefit from social assistance policies; coordinating with relevant agencies and organizations to protect and assist individuals; seeking and arranging forms of care.

4. Developing intervention and assistance plans for individuals; monitoring and reviewing intervention and assistance activities and adjusting the plan.

5. Implement preventive measures against beneficiaries falling into difficult circumstances and being harmed, abused, or mistreated.

6. Supporting beneficiaries to integrate into the community.

7. Managing beneficiaries receiving social work services.

8. Providing social education services and enhancing capacity.

a) Providing social education services to help beneficiaries develop problem-solving skills, including parenting skill training for those in need; life skills training for children and minors.

b) Cooperating with training institutions to organize training and workshops on social work for social workers and staff working in social service facilities;

c) Organizing training courses and seminars to provide knowledge and skills to beneficiary groups in need.

9. Community Development

a) Engaging with local residents and authorities at all levels to identify community issues for developing assistance programs and plans;

b) Proposing policies to competent authorities;

c) Building networks of social workers and volunteers.

d) Mobilizing resources to assist beneficiaries.

10. Organizing communication activities to raise awareness.

11. Conducting research and surveys related to social welfare and social security (if applicable).

12. Implementing financial management, property management, civil servants, officials, and employees in accordance with the law.

13. Being allowed to mobilize and accept financial and material support from domestic and foreign agencies, organizations, and individuals to carry out center activities.

14. Being allowed to implement revenue-generating service activities in accordance with the law.

15. Performing other tasks as decided by competent authorities.

Article 6. Organizational Structure of the Social Work Center

1. The leadership of the Social Work Center consists of the Director and not more than two Deputy Directors.

2. Structure

Based on the number of beneficiaries in the locality and the functions and tasks of the Social Work Center, the Head of the Civil Service Department shall take the lead and coordinate with the Head of the Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Department to submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level for deciding the organizational structure of the Social Work Center according to the following areas of work: administrative - general affairs; counseling and assistance to beneficiaries; training and community development or other departments as appropriate.

Article 7. Conditions, Authority, Documents, and Procedures for Establishing and Dissolving the Social Work Center

The conditions, authority, documents, and procedures for establishing and dissolving the Social Work Center shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Government Decree No. 55/2012/NĐ-CP dated June 28, 2012, on the establishment, restructuring, and dissolution of public service units (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 55/2012/NĐ-CP).

Article 8. Authority and Responsibility for Reviewing Documents

The authority and responsibility for reviewing the documents of the Social Work Center shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 11 of Government Decree No. 55/2012/NĐ-CP.

Article 9. Changing Name and Place of Business

The Social Work Center must submit a written request for changing its name or place of business to the competent authority that issued the establishment decision. Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the notification, the competent authority granting permission to establish must provide a written response to the request of the Social Work Center. If no response is received, the Social Work Center may proceed with the change.

Article 10. Effectiveness

This Circular takes effect from July 25, 2013.

Article 11. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall direct: Departments of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, Departments of Civil Service, People's Committees at the district level, and related agencies have the responsibility to implement this Joint Circular.

2. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, the relevant agencies and units are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Civil Service for consideration and resolution./.