Joint Circular No. 11/2011/TTLT/BTC-BLDTBXH guiding the management and use of funds to implement Decision No. 32/2010/QD-TTg dated March 25, 2010 of the Prime Minister approving the Social Work Profession Development Program for the period 2010-2020.

  JOINT CIRCULAR 

    Guidelines for managing and using funds to implement Decision No.

32/2010/QD-TTg dated March 25, 2010 of the Prime Minister

approving the Project on Developing Social Work Profession for the period 2010-2020.

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Pursuant to Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the Law on State Budget;

Pursuant to the Decree No. 118/2008/NĐ-CP dated November 27, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

Pursuant to Decree No. 186/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs;

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

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issue guidelines for managing and using funds to implement Decision No. 32/2010/QD-TTg dated March 25, 2010 of the Prime Minister approving the Project on Developing Social Work Profession for the period 2010-2020 (hereinafter referred to as the Project) as follows:

1. Object and scope of application These Circular applies to agencies and units that use state budget funds for the implementation of activities under the Project.

2. In cases where the Project uses development investment capital and non-repayable aid, it shall be implemented in accordance with current regulations of the State and specific guidance from the donors for these sources of funding.

1. Sources of funding for the Project include state budget funds for public services and development investment capital allocated annually in the state budget estimates according to the spending areas of agencies and units.

- Central budget:

+ Ensuring funds for implementing activities under the Project within the responsibilities of central ministries and sectors;

+ Targeted support for some localities to build model Social Service Centers;

+ Targeted support for localities receiving additional balance transfers from the central budget to carry out training and capacity building for social work professionals.

- Local budgets ensure funds for implementing activities under the Project within the responsibilities of local agencies and units in accordance with current laws on the division of state budget authority.

2. International organization assistance funds (if any) for Project activities.

3. Other lawful sources of funding as prescribed by law.

Article 3. Contents and expenditure levels for Project activities

1. Expenditure for surveying, reviewing, and statistics of social work professionals and service objects to develop training plans and establish databases serving the management and development of the social work profession. The content and expenditure levels are carried out in accordance with Circular No. 120/2007/TT-BTC dated October 15, 2007 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the management, use, and settlement of funds for conducting surveys from state budget public service funds.

2. Expenditure for supervision, mid-term review, final evaluation, and assessment of the implementation of Project activities. The content and expenditure levels are carried out in accordance with Circular No. 97/2010/TT-BTC dated July 6, 2010 of the Ministry of Finance stipulating travel expenses and meeting costs for state agencies and public institutions.

3. Research expenditure aimed at improving mechanisms and policies for developing the social work profession. The content and expenditure levels are carried out in accordance with Joint Circular No. 93/2006/TTLT/BTC-BKH&CN dated October 4, 2006 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology guiding the allocation of research project funds using state budget funds and Joint Circular No. 44/2007/TTLT/BTC-BKH&CN dated May 7, 2007 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology guiding the establishment and distribution of project budget estimates using state budget funds.

4. International cooperation expenditure to enhance capacity for developing the social work profession and implementing Project activities: The content and expenditure levels are carried out in accordance with Circular No. 91/2005/TT-BTC dated October 18, 2005 of the Ministry of Finance stipulating travel expenses for short-term overseas trips funded by the state budget and Circular No. 01/2010/TT-BTC dated January 6, 2010 of the Ministry of Finance stipulating regulations on hosting foreign guests, organizing international conferences, and domestic hospitality.

5. Expenditure for drafting and promulgating legal regulations on social work.

The content and expenditure levels are carried out in accordance with Joint Circular No. 192/2010/TTLT-BTC-BTP-VPCP dated December 2, 2010 of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, and the Office of the Government guiding the preparation, management, use, and settlement of state budget funds for legislative work and legal system improvement.

6. Expenditure for consolidating and developing networks of social service providers and social work professionals.

6.1. Expenditure for researching and planning social service organizations in conjunction with social welfare facilities established by the state and those established by permitted organizations and individuals, and between Social Service Centers and the social welfare system. The content and expenditure levels are carried out in accordance with Circular No. 24/2008/TT-BTC dated March 14, 2008 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the management, use, and settlement of public service funds for planning tasks and projects.

6.2. Expenditure for establishing model Social Service Centers:

a) Expenditure for formulating criteria and conditions for model Social Service Centers. The content and expenditure levels are carried out in accordance with current national regulations.

b) From 2010 to 2015, establish a minimum of ten model Social Service Centers in districts, counties, towns, cities under provinces, and provincial-level centrally governed cities representing different regions and areas across the country.

c) Depending on specific requirements, conditions, and the financial capacity of local budgets, the Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities (hereinafter collectively referred to as the provincial level) approves the plan to establish model Social Service Centers in their locality after obtaining the agreement of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

d) The central budget provides additional targeted support to local budgets from the capital for social welfare programs:

- In the case of establishing new Social Work Service Centers: The central budget will provide initial equipment support for the Center with a maximum amount of 3,000 million VND per center.

- In the case of expanding and upgrading social welfare facilities, Social Work Service Centers (where existing infrastructure does not yet meet the requirements and suitability for social work service provision): Support for repairs, renovations, and upgrades of rooms, and procurement of necessary equipment to serve social work service activities. The maximum level of support is 1,500 million VND per social welfare facility, Social Work Service Center.

đ) Management, utilization, and settlement of funds from the central budget support shall be carried out in accordance with current regulations on management and payment of investment capital and operational capital with investment characteristics from state budget funds and management of additional targeted funds from the central budget for local budgets.

e) Regular operating expenses of Social Work Service Centers, social welfare facilities providing social work services shall be guaranteed by local budgets according to current regulations applicable to public service units that are social welfare facilities. Additionally, this Circular specifies certain special expense items for receiving and caring for individuals requiring urgent protection as follows:

- Expense for filing temporary resident files at the Center, with a cost of 30,000 VND per file.

- Expense for hiring consulting experts and psychological support for individuals or groups, as follows:

+ 50,000 VND per consultation session (for consultations involving 1-2 individuals);

+ 100,000 VND per consultation session (for consultations involving 3 or more individuals).

- Expense for food support for individuals requiring urgent protection during their stay at the Center. The support level is 25,000 VND per person per day but not exceeding 30 days. In exceptional cases where the stay needs to be extended, a decision by the competent authority must be made, and the food support level shall be equivalent to the level provided for individuals residing in social welfare facilities as stipulated locally.

- Expense for purchasing essential personal living items for individuals, with a maximum amount of 300,000 VND per person.

- Expense for routine medical examinations and treatments during the period of residence at the Center, with a maximum amount of 50,000 VND per person.

6.3. For the period 2016-2020, support for the replication of Social Work Service Centers in districts, towns, cities under provinces; universities, vocational schools directly under ministries, sectors, or localities to provide social work services to individuals, groups, families, and communities facing social issues based on an assessment of the implementation of pilot Social Work Service Centers during the period 2010-2015.

6.4. Monthly allowances for social workers in non-specialized positions or community social work volunteers at the commune level, with the monthly allowance equal to the general minimum wage set by the Government for each period. The number is determined by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province in accordance with the population size, geographical conditions of each commune, ward, town, and ensuring that each commune, ward, town has at least one to two social workers in non-specialized positions or community social work volunteers.

6.5. Expenses for training, retraining, enhancing professional knowledge, skills, and capacity building for social work officials, staff, employees, and volunteers, including:

a) Training targets include:

Social work officials, staff, employees, and volunteers working at communes, wards, towns, social service centers, and labor, war invalids, and social affairs agencies at all levels.

b) Content and expenditure levels for training, enhancing professional knowledge, skills, and capacity building for social work officials, staff, employees, and volunteers shall be implemented in accordance with Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC dated September 21, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance on the preparation of budgets, management, and use of state budget funds for training and capacity building of civil servants and public officials.

7. Expenses for developing and perfecting the framework program and teaching materials for social work training:

a) Expenses for developing and promulgating the framework program and teaching materials for intermediate and higher vocational social work training to ensure seamless connection with university-level vocational social work training; developing and perfecting the framework program and teaching materials for postgraduate social work bachelor's degree training; developing teaching materials on the operations of Social Work Service Centers. The content and expenditure levels are regulated in Circular No. 123/2009/TT-BTC dated June 17, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Finance on the development of framework programs and compilation of textbooks for undergraduate, college, and secondary vocational education programs.

b) Supporting expenses for departments offering social work training at educational institutions and enhancing the capacity of the social work faculty team, including: Enhancing professional skills in social work; training counseling skills in social work for faculty members currently teaching social work at educational institutions.

The content and expenditure levels are regulated in Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC dated September 21, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance on the preparation of budgets, management, and use of state budget funds for training and capacity building of civil servants and public officials. In cases where the organizing agency is responsible for reimbursing travel expenses for trainees from the project fund, trainees do not need to settle accounts at the dispatching unit.

8. Propaganda and information dissemination to enhance awareness among cadres, civil servants, employees, and the people about the profession of social work

a) Expenses for propaganda through mass media (radio, television, press); construction and operation of websites; production, duplication, and distribution of various types of communication products according to approved budgets by authorized authorities. The expenditure level is implemented through contracts between propaganda agencies and mass media agencies.

b) Organize contests to promote and disseminate laws on social work development, subject to approval by competent authorities. The content and level of expenditure shall be in accordance with Circular No. 73/2010/TTLT-BTC-BTP dated May 14, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice guiding the preparation, management, and utilization of funds for legal promotion and education activities.

Article 4. Preparation, Execution, and Settlement of State Budget

The preparation, allocation, execution, and settlement of the budget for implementing the Project shall be carried out in accordance with the Law on State Budgets and related guiding documents; this Circular provides detailed guidance on certain additional matters.

1. The funds for implementing the Project's activities by ministries, central agencies, and localities shall be allocated within the annual state budget estimates according to the spending categories of each agency and unit under the current state budget classification.

2. Ministries and sectors shall, based on their assigned tasks (as stipulated in Article 2 of Decision No. 32/2010/QĐ-TTg dated March 25, 2010 of the Prime Minister), take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to develop implementation plans for the Project, issue guiding documents for the Project's activities within their authority, and submit them to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

3. The Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant departments and sectors to develop implementation plans for the Project, submit them for approval by the People's Committee Chairman at the provincial level, clearly defining indicators, activities of the Project, and responsibilities of each agency in organizing its implementation; compile and report annually on the results of implementation to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

4. Annually, based on proposals from ministries, sectors, and localities implementing the Project, and considering the approved Project implementation budget as per Decision No. 32/2010/QĐ-TTg, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall review and propose allocations to ministries, sectors, and localities (for Project implementation funds from the central budget), consolidate and submit to the Ministry of Finance for consideration and inclusion in the budget estimate, and report to the competent authority for decision-making in accordance with the Law on State Budgets and related implementing documents.

Article 5. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from March 15, 2011.

2. During implementation, if there are any difficulties, units are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs for study and resolution.