TIRANA, March 21/ATA/ About 300 social workers were licensed today, as a further guarantee for better quality services in every community.
Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu, together with the representative of UNICEF in Albania, Dr. Roberto Bernardi, Chairman of the Order of Social Workers Mirgit Vataj and Head of the Social Work department Eliona Kulluri gave the first licensing certificates for social workers in the country during an event held today.
“I am happy that together with those who for the first time made possible the creation of the Social Worker’s Order, we are here to grant the first licenses of social workers”, said Manastirliu.
Minister Manastirliu emphasized strengthening of the role of social worker in hospital service protocols, but also in the primary service with the creation of socio-health centers.
Minister Manastirliu said that, “Our attention will now be on expanding the services where social workers are an integral part. The first 50 social workers and psychologists are attached to the socio-medical centers and within the current year we will have another 50 workers, who will be attached to the primary care structures throughout the country. Not only are new jobs opened, but above all we create a new philosophy within health services by integrating them with social ones”.
Social workers are also included in the reform for the evaluation of individuals with disabilities, as members of the bio-psycho-social commissions and part of the multidisciplinary evaluations. Currently, there are 21 social workers who are part of these Commissions established in the 12 regions of the country. Also, social workers are part of health, social, educational, justice structures, etc.
One year after establishment of the Order of Social Workers, on the World Day of Social Work and the Month of Social Work, there were granted the first 300 licenses to social workers in the Republic of Albania, after a long work process by the bodies of the Order of Social Workers. /k.s/r.e/p.s./
