49 social worker posts short across Namibia
Namibia is short of at least 49 social workers at constituency level, with the Ministry of Gender, Equality and Social Welfare reporting significant staffing disparities across the country.
The shortfall is measured against the ministry’s approved establishment, which provides for at least one social worker in every constituency. However, only 72 operational-level social workers are currently deployed across Namibia’s 121 constituencies, leaving a net gap of 49.
Omusati has the largest shortfall, with three social workers serving 12 constituencies – a gap of nine. Oshana and Oshikoto each have four social workers for 11 constituencies, leaving gaps of seven each.
Ohangwena, Hardap and Kunene each have gaps of five, while //Kharas is short by four. Kavango West, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi each have two fewer operational-level social workers than their number of constituencies.
Erongo and Kavango East meet the minimum benchmark, while Khomas exceeds it, with 11 social workers for 10 constituencies.
The ministry cautioned that the figures do not represent its entire social work establishment because Senior Social Workers are excluded.
“The above figures do not reflect the positions of Senior Social Workers, but rather indicate the current filled social worker positions at operational level,” it said in response to questions from Namibian Sun.
The ministry nevertheless acknowledged shortages across all regions, attributing them partly to the limited number of social work graduates entering the labour market and competition for graduates among organisations and ministries.
High caseloads
The ministry also cited high caseloads as a major factor behind staff attrition.
“The Ministry continues to experience a high attrition rate, largely linked to high caseloads,” it said. “As a result, not all approved social worker positions are currently filled.”
It said recruitment was under way during the current financial year to strengthen service delivery across all regions.
The shortage comes as Namibia faces growing demands on its child protection and social welfare systems. NDP6 identified shortages of professional personnel as a major constraint to effective child protection services and recorded a ratio of one social worker for every 17 923 children.
The plan also recorded 14 059 cases of violence against children during the previous planning period, including physical and sexual abuse, neglect, trafficking and abandonment.
The latest staffing figures therefore highlight a significant gap between the government’s intended minimum constituency-level coverage and the number of operational social workers currently available.
