Circular No. 26/2022/TT-BLDTBXH stipulates the code number, standards for occupational titles and salary grading for social work professionals.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on job code, qualification standards, and salary grading for social work professionals

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Pursuant to the Civil Servant Law dated November 15, 2010; and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Civil Servants and Public Officials Law and the Civil Servant Law dated November 25, 2019;

Pursuant to Decree No. 204/2004/ND-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government on wage regulations for civil servants, public officials, and members of the armed forces; Decree No. 17/2013/ND-CP dated December 19, 2013 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 204/2004/ND-CP dated December 14, 2004 on wage regulations for civil servants, public officials, and members of the armed forces;

Pursuant to Decree No. 115/2020/ND-CP dated September 25, 2020 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of public officials;

Based on Decree No. 62/2022/NĐ-CP dated September 12, 2022 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs;

Based on the consensus opinion of the Ministry of Home Affairs;

At the proposal of the Director of the Social Assistance Administration;

The Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issues this Circular regulating job codes, qualification standards, and salary grading for social work professionals.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular regulates job codes, qualification standards, and salary grading for social work professionals.

Article 2. This Circular applies to social work professionals working in public service organizations and related agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 2. Job titles and job codes for social work professionals

1. Senior Social Worker Code: V.09.04.01

2. Social Worker Code: V.09.04.02

3. Social Work Assistant Code: V.09.04.03

Article 3. General ethical standards for social work professionals

Social work professionals must meet the specific job title qualifications set forth in Chapter II of this Circular and the general ethical standards for social work professionals as follows:

1. Possess good political and moral qualities; comply with the Party's policies and State laws.

2. Place the interests of clients as the primary goal in professional activities, have a sense of protecting long-term and continuous benefits for clients; respect privacy, self-determination rights, and confidentiality of clients; encourage and support clients to achieve appropriate goals.

3. Not exploit professional relationships for personal gain affecting client assistance.

4. Respect, be open-minded, cooperative, empathetic, and share with colleagues in professional activities.

5. Fulfill all duties of a public official in professional activities.

6. Continuously study to improve professional skills in social work.

Chapter II
OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS

Article 4. Senior Social Worker - Code: V.09.04.01

1. Tasks

a) Lead and direct the implementation of complex social work tasks requiring theoretical knowledge, methods, and practical skills;

b) Organize the screening, classification, and reception of clients;

c) Lead the assessment of clients' psychological state, health status, background, and needs for social work services;

d) Lead the development and implementation of assistance plans for clients;

đ) Lead the provision of complex social work services requiring theoretical knowledge, methods, and practical skills including counseling, consultation, therapy, rehabilitation, education, negotiation, mediation, advocacy, and publicity;

e) Lead the monitoring and review of intervention activities; adjust assistance plans if necessary;

g) Lead the collection, synthesis, analysis, and forecasting of client progress data;

h) Organize community integration support for clients;

i) Lead the summary, evaluation, and lessons learned from social work activities; propose amendments and supplements to job standards and procedures;

k) Lead or participate in research projects on social work;

l) Lead or participate in compiling content, programs, textbooks, materials on social work, and training social work professionals and social work volunteers;

m) Advise on the development of short-term and long-term strategies, programs, projects, and organizational plans for social work services.

2. Qualification requirements for education and training

a) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in social work, sociology, psychology, special education, or other relevant social science fields suitable for social work tasks.

In cases where a bachelor's degree in another field is held, there must be a certificate or certification in social work vocational training issued by an educational institution or authorized agency according to the program issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, or hold a diploma in social work from a college or technical school, or a certificate in basic social work;

b) Hold a certificate in social work professional job title standards training.

3. Professional Qualification Standards

a) Have the ability to lead and direct the implementation of social work activities;

b) Have the ability to effectively coordinate with related agencies, units, and individuals during the execution of social work tasks;

c) Have the ability to analyze, synthesize, and generalize activities related to professional expertise to propose solutions to enhance the effectiveness of social work activities;

d) Have the ability to guide social work practices consistent with the trained specialty;

đ) Have basic information technology skills, and proficiency in foreign languages or ethnic minority languages for social workers operating in ethnic minority regions based on job requirements.

Article 4. Requirements for candidates for promotion to the position of Senior Social Worker

a) A civil servant participating in the promotion examination from the social work assistant position to the social work officer position must meet the following conditions: meeting the standards and conditions stipulated in point a, Clause 1, Article 32 of Decree No. 115/2020/ND-CP dated September 25, 2020 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of civil servants (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 115/2020/ND-CP); the standards for the social work officer position as prescribed in Clauses 2 and 3, Article 4 of this Circular, and having at least 09 (nine) years of working experience in the social work assistant position or equivalent positions (excluding probation and trial periods). In cases with equivalent time, they must have held the social work assistant position for at least 01 year (12 months) up to the deadline for submitting registration forms for the examination or promotion review.

b) A civil servant being reviewed for promotion from the social work assistant position to the social work officer position must satisfy all the conditions stipulated in point a, Clause 4 of this Article and meet one of the following conditions: Leading or participating in at least 01 research project in the field of social work or related fields such as project development, program proposals, special topics, scientific research projects, regulatory documents, innovations in the field of social welfare at the grassroots level or higher, which have been issued, accepted, or approved by competent authorities; author of a scientific article on social work published in a scientific journal; participating in compiling books on social work and related fields that have been published; receiving a Commendation Certificate from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or higher or from the Minister for achievements in social work.

Article 5. Social Work Assistant - Code: V.09.04.02

1. Tasks

a) Directing the implementation of basic social work tasks requiring theoretical knowledge, methods, and practical skills;

b) Screening, categorizing, and accepting clients;

c) Assessing psychological, physical health, background, and social work service needs of clients;

d) Developing and implementing assistance plans for clients;

đ) Directly providing and implementing basic social work services requiring theoretical knowledge, methods, and practical skills such as counseling, consultation, therapy, rehabilitation, education, negotiation, mediation, advocacy, and public awareness campaigns;

e) Monitoring and reviewing intervention activities according to assigned tasks; proposing adjustments to assistance plans if necessary;

g) Supporting clients to integrate into the community;

h) Collecting data, synthesizing, analyzing, and forecasting the progress of clients;

i) Evaluating and learning from social work business activities within the scope of assigned tasks; proposing amendments and supplements to social work standards and procedures;

k) Leading or participating in researching programs, projects, and topics in the field of social work within the assigned scope;

l) Leading or participating in compiling programs, textbooks, materials on social work and training, guiding social work practices for civil servants and social work volunteers according to assigned tasks.

2. Qualification requirements for education and training

a) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in social work, sociology, psychology, special education, or other relevant social science fields suitable for social work tasks.

In cases where a bachelor's degree in another field is held, there must be a certificate or certification in social work vocational training issued by an educational institution or authorized agency according to the program issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, or hold a diploma in social work from a college or technical school, or a certificate in basic social work;

b) Hold a certificate in social work professional job title standards training.

3. Professional Qualification Standards

a) Possessing independent capability and proficiency in social work skills and tasks;

b) Being able to grasp theories and practical methods during the execution of social work tasks appropriately;

c) Having the ability to lead and coordinate with organizations and individuals during the execution of social work tasks; being personally responsible for the results of assigned tasks;

d) Having the ability to guide social work practices, disseminate experiences, and participate in scientific research in the field of social work;

đ) Identifying the assistance needs of clients and determining appropriate solutions;

e) Having basic information technology skills and being able to use foreign languages or ethnic minority languages for civil servants working in ethnic minority areas as required by job positions.

4. Requirements for civil servants applying for promotion to the social work assistant position

Civil servants moving from the social work staff position to the social work assistant position must meet the standards and conditions stipulated in point a, Clause 1, Article 32 of Decree No. 115/2020/ND-CP, the standards for the social work assistant position as prescribed in Clauses 2 and 3, Article 5 of this Circular, and having at least 02 (two) years of working experience in the social work staff position or equivalent positions (excluding probation and trial periods) for college-level qualifications or at least 03 (three) years for secondary-level qualifications (excluding probation and trial periods). In cases with equivalent time, they must have held the social work staff position for at least 01 year (12 months) up to the deadline for submitting registration forms for the examination or promotion review.

Article 6. Social Work Staff - Code: V.09.04.03

1. Tasks

a) Be responsible for performing certain social work tasks with simple requirements regarding theory, methods, and practical skills as assigned;

b) Participate in screening, classifying, and receiving subjects as assigned;

c) Conduct psychological and physical health assessments, background checks, and identify needs of subjects as assigned;

d) Propose assistance plans and directly implement such plans for specific individuals or groups of subjects as assigned;

đ) Participate in providing and implementing social work services with simple theoretical, methodological, and practical skill requirements including counseling, consultation, therapy, rehabilitation, education, negotiation, mediation, and public awareness campaigns within the scope of assignment;

e) Participate in monitoring and reviewing intervention activities; propose adjustments to assistance plans if necessary as assigned;

g) Participate in supporting subjects to integrate into the community within the scope of assignment;

h) Participate in collecting data, compiling, analyzing, and forecasting the progress of subjects;

i) Be directly responsible for performing certain social work tasks as assigned.

2. Qualification requirements for education and training

a) Hold a college degree or higher in social work, sociology, psychology, special education, or other relevant social science fields suitable for social work duties. In cases where a college degree or higher is obtained in another field, must have a certificate in social work training issued by an educational institution or authorized agency according to the program issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs or hold a primary-level certificate in social work;

b) Hold a certificate in social work professional job title standards training.

3. Professional Qualification Standards

a) Possess independent capability and proficiency in performing social work skills within the scope of assigned tasks;

b) Have basic information technology skills, be able to use foreign languages or ethnic minority languages for social workers working in ethnic minority areas as required by job positions;

c) Possess teamwork skills during the execution of social work tasks;

d) Have communication skills with subjects;

đ) Possess the ability to identify assistance needs of subjects.

Chapter III
APPOINTMENT AND RANKING OF SALARIES FOR PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS OF SOCIAL WORK SPECIALISTS

Article 7. Principles for appointment and ranking of salaries for professional positions of social work specialists

1. The appointment and salary ranking for social work specialists as stipulated in this Circular must be based on the job position, responsibilities, tasks, and professional and vocational capabilities currently held by the staff member.

2. When appointing and ranking salaries from the current civil servant grade to the professional position of social work specialist, it shall not combine with increasing salary grade or upgrading the professional position of civil servants.

Article 8. Salary Ranking

1. Professional positions of social work specialists shall apply the specialized salary scale for cadres and civil servants in state-run units (Table 3) issued together with Decree No. 204/2004/ND-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government on the wage system for cadres, civil servants, and armed forces personnel (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 204/2004/ND-CP) and Decree No. 17/2013/ND-CP dated February 19, 2013 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 204/2004/ND-CP as follows:

a) The professional position of Senior Social Worker shall apply the salary coefficient of Grade A2 Group 1 (A2.1), from coefficient 4.40 to coefficient 6.78;

b) The professional position of Social Worker shall apply the salary coefficient of Grade A1, from coefficient 2.34 to coefficient 4.98;

c) The professional position of Social Work Staff shall apply the salary coefficient of Grade B, from coefficient 1.86 to coefficient 4.06.

2. Salary ranking upon completion of probation period and appointment to professional position

After completing the probation period as prescribed and being appointed to a professional position of social work specialist by the competent authority managing civil servants, the following salary grading shall be implemented:

a) In case of holding a doctoral degree, suitable for the recruitment position, shall be appointed to the professional position of Social Worker: rank at level 3, coefficient 3.00, Grade A1 civil servant;

b) In case of holding a master's degree, suitable for the recruitment position, shall be appointed to the professional position of Social Worker: rank at level 2, coefficient 2.67, Grade A1 civil servant;

c) In case of holding a bachelor's degree, suitable for the recruitment position, shall be appointed to the professional position of Social Worker: rank at level 1, coefficient 2.34, Grade A1 civil servant;

d) In case of holding an associate degree, suitable for the recruitment position, shall be appointed to the professional position of Social Work Staff: rank at level 2, coefficient 2.06, Grade B civil servant;

đ) In case of holding a college diploma, suitable for the recruitment position, shall be appointed to the professional position of Social Work Staff: rank at level 1, coefficient 1.86, Grade B civil servant.

3. In the case where a civil servant has a college degree in social work when recruited and was assigned to grade A0 according to the provisions of Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP, now being appointed to the position of Social Work Officer (code V.09.04.03), their salary grade will be determined based on the time of compulsory social insurance contributions according to the state's salary scale (excluding probationary period) as follows: Starting from grade 2 of the Social Work Officer position, every two years (full 24 months), they will be promoted to one salary grade (if there are interrupted periods without enjoying social insurance benefits, these periods can be accumulated); the time for the next salary promotion will be calculated from the date of the current salary coefficient at type A0. If the salary coefficient (including any additional seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling, if applicable) at type A0 is higher than the highest salary coefficient of type B civil servants, then the salary assignment will be carried out according to the calculation method specified in point c, clause 1, Section II of Circular No. 02/2007/TT-BNV dated May 25, 2007, issued by the Minister of Home Affairs guiding the assignment of salaries when upgrading ranks, transferring ranks, or changing types of civil servants (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 02/2007/TT-BNV).

4. Civil servants who pass the examination or are promoted to a higher rank according to the regulations stipulated in Article 42 of Decree No. 115/2020/NĐ-CP shall be appointed to the specialized social work civil servant position they were admitted to.

5. The promotion of rank for specialized social work civil servants shall be implemented after they have been appointed and assigned salaries for the specialized social work civil servant positions according to the provisions of this Circular and the salary assignment shall be carried out according to the guidance in clause 1, Section II of Circular No. 02/2007/TT-BNV.

Chapter IV
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 9. Transitional Provisions

1. Civil servants who have been appointed to specialized social work positions according to the law before this Circular takes effect shall be considered as meeting the requirements for specialized social work civil servant positions stipulated in this Circular corresponding to the positions they have been appointed to.

2. Civil servants who have obtained the training certificate for specialized social work civil servant positions before June 30, 2022, according to the provisions of clause 3, Article 2 of Government Decree No. 89/2021/NĐ-CP dated October 18, 2021, amending and supplementing some articles of Government Decree No. 101/2017/NĐ-CP dated September 1, 2017, on training and retraining of cadres, civil servants, and civil servants, shall be considered as meeting the requirements for the training certificate for specialized social work civil servant positions to be eligible for job transfer, participation in examinations, or promotion of rank, and they will not need to undergo the training program for specialized social work civil servant positions as stipulated in this Circular.

3. The transfer of salary grades for civil servants moving from their current positions to specialized social work civil servant positions as stipulated in this Circular shall be carried out according to the guidance in Section II of Circular No. 02/2007/TT-BNV.

Article 10. Implementation Organization

1. Public service units shall base themselves on the provisions of this Circular to implement recruitment, utilization, and management of the specialized social work civil servant workforce.

2. Non-public institutions may apply the provisions of this Circular to recruit, utilize, and manage the workforce engaged in specialized social work.

3. The heads of public service units directly managing and utilizing civil servants shall be responsible for:

a) Reviewing the job positions within the unit, developing plans for appointment to specialized social work civil servant positions corresponding to the unit's authority, submitting them to the competent authority for review and decision-making or making decisions according to the delegated authority;

b) Making decisions on the appointment to specialized social work civil servant positions according to the delegated authority or proposing the competent authority to make decisions after the appointment plan has been approved by the competent authority;

4. Provincial People's Committees and Municipal People's Committees under the Central Government shall be responsible for:

a) Directing public service units under their management to implement appointments to positions and salary assignments for civil servants within the unit;

b) Approving plans for appointments to positions and salary assignments for civil servants in public service units under their management transitioning from their current civil servant ranks to specialized social work civil servant positions as stipulated in this Circular; resolving issues within their authority during the process of appointing positions and assigning salaries;

c) Making decisions on appointments to positions and salary assignments for civil servants under their management to specialized social work positions in public service units according to their authority;

d) Reporting the results of appointments to positions and salary assignments for civil servants in public service units under their management to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Article 11. Effective Date

1. This Circular shall take effect from January 28, 2023.

2. Abolish Joint Circular No. 30/2015/TTLT-BLĐTBXH-BNV dated August 19, 2015, of the Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs on the code and standards for specialized social work civil servant positions.

3. In cases where laws and regulations cited in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced by other laws and regulations, the provisions of the amended, supplemented, or replacing laws and regulations shall apply.

Article 12. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Minister, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, Heads of Agencies under the Government, Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees and Municipal People's Committees under the Central Government, and related organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. During the implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, please report to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs for consideration and resolution.