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Social Workers Registration Act 2003

Competence and fitness - Conditions affecting ability to practise as a social worker

56: Conduct and consequences of examination

You could also call this:

"What happens if a social worker needs a medical check to keep working"

Illustration for Social Workers Registration Act 2003

If you are a social worker, the Board might ask you to have a medical check. The Board must tell the doctor why you need the check and what kind of social work you usually do. You will get notice of this from the Board.

You can choose another doctor to be with you when you have the medical check. You can also have a friend or family member with you for support. This person must agree to be there with you.

The doctor who checks you must write a report about your health. This report will say if you are well enough to work as a social worker. The doctor must give this report to the Registrar as soon as possible.

The Registrar must then show the report to the Board and send you a copy. You will get to see what the doctor said about your health and if you can keep working as a social worker. The report is important because it will help the Board decide what to do next.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM190233.

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Previous

55: Power to order medical examination, or

"The Board can make social workers see a doctor to check they can do their job properly."

Next

57: Individual scope of practice may be changed or registration or practising certificate may be suspended because of mental or physical condition, or

"The Board can limit or stop a social worker's work if a mental or physical condition affects their job."

Part 3Competence and fitness
Conditions affecting ability to practise as a social worker

56Conduct and consequences of examination

  1. The Board must give a medical practitioner who undertakes an examination under section 55 notice of—

  2. its reasons for requiring the examination; and
    1. the fields of social work in which the social worker usually practises.

      1. The social worker—

      2. is entitled to have another medical practitioner, of the social worker’s choice, attend the examination as an observer; and
        1. whether or not a medical practitioner chosen by the social worker attends, is entitled to be accompanied by 1 person of the social worker’s choice who agrees to attend.

          1. The medical practitioner who examines the social worker must, as soon as reasonably practicable after the examination, give the Registrar a written report on the social worker's mental and physical condition (so far as it affects the social worker’s ability to practise satisfactorily as a social worker).

          2. Promptly after receiving the report, the Registrar must—

          3. put it before the Board; and
            1. send a copy to the social worker.

              Notes
              • Section 56(2)(a): amended, on , by section 23 of the Social Workers Registration Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 17).
              • Section 56(2)(b): amended, on , by section 23 of the Social Workers Registration Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 17).
              • Section 56(3): amended, on , by section 23 of the Social Workers Registration Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 17).
              • Section 56(3): amended, on , by section 79 of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).