Social Workers Registration Act 2003

Competence and fitness - Competence

41: Actions after review of competence

You could also call this:

"What happens if the Board checks a social worker's competence and finds they need to improve"

Illustration for Social Workers Registration Act 2003

If you are a social worker, the Board might review your competence to practise as a social worker. The Board can tell the Registrar to arrange for you to complete a competence assessment if they think you should. They can also tell the Registrar to add conditions to your individual scope of practice or change existing conditions.

The Board can give a direction to the Registrar at the same time as telling you to complete a competence assessment, or at a later time. You will be given a copy of the direction within 5 working days. The direction will take effect on the day you receive a copy, or on a later date stated in it, as explained in section 145.

The Registrar must make sure you get a copy of the direction, and you will know what you need to do next. The Board's direction is an important step in making sure you are competent to practise as a social worker. You should follow the direction to complete any required assessments or meet the conditions set by the Board.

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This page was last updated on 7 August 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM190212.

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40: Form of review, or

"How the Board checks if a social worker is doing their job properly and what you can do about it"

42: Competence assessments, or

"Checking if you have the skills to be a social worker"

Part 3Competence and fitness
Competence

41Actions after review of competence

If, after reviewing a social worker's competence to practise as a social worker, the Board is satisfied that the social worker should complete a competence assessment, it may direct the Registrar to arrange for the social worker to complete a competence assessment.
The Board may also direct the Registrar to place conditions in the social worker’s individual scope of practice or cancel or vary an existing condition.
The Board may give a direction under subsection (2)—
when directing the Registrar to arrange for the social worker to complete a competence assessment; or
at any later time before the social worker has completed a competence assessment.

Within 5 working days after the Board gives a direction under this section, the Registrar must ensure that the social worker concerned is given a copy.
A direction under this section takes effect on the day on which the social worker is given a copy (see section 145), or on any later date stated in it.

Notes

Section 41(1): amended, on 30 March 2025, by section 23 of the Social Workers Registration Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 17).
Section 41(1): amended, on 27 February 2021, by section 144(2) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
Section 41(1): amended, on 28 February 2019, by section 144(1) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
Section 41(2): amended, on 27 February 2021, by section 62(1) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
Section 41(5): amended, on 27 February 2021, by section 62(2) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).