Jordan: The senior officials of the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) of Jordan finished a 5-day study visit in Northern Ireland supported and organised by NI-CO to witness first-hand social protection services for vulnerable and abused children and women on February 20, 2023 (Monday).
According to the update, the MoSD delegation visited social care and health services and the Department of Justice and listened to senior officials about the importance of good governance and strong relationships between stakeholders and service providers in ensuring quality services.
NI-CO Project Strategic Director Paul Martin said that the MoSD is in the process of strengthening its governance framework within its HQ and field directors to provide quality services. The post further claimed that NI-CO Component Lead and Expert on Governance and the Professionalization of Social Work, Dr Michael Murray said the MoSD, as part of efforts to strengthen its governance framework, has approved a code of conduct for social workers.
He added that four Jordanian universities that offer social work programmes have agreed on a Common Core Curriculum (CCC) for Social Work programmes. He explained that this would equip social work students and future social workers with standard qualifications to meet market needs.
As per the update, the MoSD Deputy Secretary-General Amer Hiasat, the head of the delegation, thanked NI-CO for organising the “important” study visit, adding that the delegation would convey what it had learned during the study visit to Jordan and move forward with its Governance and the Professionalisation of Social Work programmes.
It added that the delegates visited juvenile centres, the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers (NIASW), shelters for abused women, social care services for children, families and community organisations.
According to the ministry, the study visit is part of the EU Support to Social Protection Programme in Jordan activities.