A new framework aims to enhance professional development for counsellors and address the growing needs in the social service sector.
SINGAPORE – A new counselling skills track within the national skills framework for the social service sector has been launched to help counsellors advance their careers, identifying key job roles and the skills required for each. The initiative, announced by Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development, is designed to support counsellors in their professional growth and to better match training programs to sector needs.
The framework outlines job pathways at various levels, including practice, management, and research. Four new job-specific skills have been added to the track: clinical supervision, counselling assessment, counselling intervention, and technology application in counselling. These additions respond to the evolving needs of Singapore’s population and the social service sector, particularly with the increasing demand for remote counselling services following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since 2019, the Skills Framework for Social Service has provided information on job roles, necessary skills, and training programs. It includes tracks for various fields such as youth work and early intervention. The number of counsellors registered with the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC) has risen significantly, from 940 in 2020 to 1,240 in 2022, reflecting a growing demand for professional services.
Minister Masagos emphasized the importance of counselling during challenging times, such as the pandemic, where mental health issues, family conflicts, and stress were prevalent. He also pointed out that counselling is a vital part of broader social services like family counselling and youth counselling, helping individuals and families thrive.
The new track aligns with Singapore’s broader policy goals to provide accessible and secular social services that cater to all individuals, regardless of race, religion, or gender. Ms. Theresa Pong, a counselling director and founder of The Relationship Room, expressed that the new framework will be essential in addressing the evolving dynamics of family structures in Singapore, including the rise of transnational, blended, and single-parent families.
