Bi-Monthly report of April-May 2021

Contents

Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 1

ATCSW Work Plan 2021 ................................................................................................................... 1

ATCSW Activities ................................................................................................................................ 2
Activities Conforming to the ATCSW Work Plan ................................................................................... 2
Risk Assessment and Management ..................................................................................................... 2
Training Needs Assessment ................................................................................................................. 2
Preparation for Pilot Project................................................................................................................ 3
Workshop on Capacity Building for Social Workers............................................................................ 4
Strategic Communication Plan............................................................................................................. 4

Conferences, Meetings and Consultations............................................................................ 6
Multi-Lateral Cooperation ........................................................................................................................ 6
1st Meeting of Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Roadmap to Implement Ha Noi
Declaration on Strengthening Social Work towards Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN
Community ........................................................................................................................................... 6
ASEAN, China, UNDP 5th Symposium: Role of Youth in Achieving SDG.............................................. 6
Regional Workshop on Shelter Practices across ASEAN Member States........................................... 7
High Level Cultural Forum (HLCF) ........................................................................................................ 8
Forum on SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and Business and Human Rights -
An ASEAN-Swiss Peer-Learning Event ................................................................................................. 8
Bi-Lateral Cooperation with Partners ....................................................................................................... 9
Meeting with JICA ................................................................................................................................ 9
Meeting with Thai PBS ......................................................................................................................... 9
Internal Meetings and Consultations....................................................................................................... 10
Meeting with MSDHS on MOU with MFA ......................................................................................... 10
Internal Meeting with Foreign Affairs Division ................................................................................. 10
Meeting on ATCSW’s Budget with Finance Division ......................................................................... 11
ATCSW Internal Meetings ..................................................................................................................... 11
Weekly Meeting ................................................................................................................................. 11

Issues and Recommendations ................................................................................................... 12

Introduction

The months of April and May 2021 were devoted to projects continuation
and execution such as Training Needs Assessment, Risk Assessment, and
Curriculum Finalization as well as Work Priority Placement. All required
documents and methods were prepared in previous months, and the up-coming
programs and strategies were outlined in the ATCSW Work Plan 2021. However,
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the operations of the Centre had to be
organized in an online format and some were postponed. It was such a challenge
for ATCSW to prove its competences to carry on its tasks in difficult situations.
This report keeps track of the works and activities that were accomplished in April
and May 2021.

ATCSW Work Plan 2021

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ATCSW Activities

Activities Conforming to the ATCSW Work Plan

Risk Assessment and Management

ATCSW started a study on risk assessment and prevention approaches in
February. The appraisal process was completed in April, and some management
steps were presented as a report to be uploaded to ATCSW website (http://atcsw-
thailand.m-society.go.th/).

In essence, ATCSW deems it most significant to conduct Risk Analyses
regularly. This is to enable the Centre to identify risks or potential risks and risk
factors in advance, analyze and prioritize them. Precautionary steps must be
taken to reduce and curb all forms of risks that may happen to any activities that
ATCSW has planned to conduct. The new wave of COVID-19 pandemic in
April was a notorious example of unpredictable risks which had had
tremendously affected the training methods and approaches. The situation
showed no sign of improvement this year, thus all the up-coming training
courses and activities of the ATCSW, for example, the Pilot Project on “Public
Communication Skills for Social Service Workers” which had been
previously planned for June, had to switch to the online format.

Training Needs Assessment

Placing emphasis on the interest of social workers and the benefits they
will gain from training courses, ATCSW takes as its urgent task to conduct the
Training Needs Assessment (TNA) before it finalizes curriculum and training
courses. In fact, TNA has been placed as top priority in the Work Plan 2021 of
the Centre as shown above which was approved by the Board at its first meeting
in January.

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In preparation for the TNA, ATCSW had approached various academic
institutes in Thailand for cooperation in conducting ASEAN Regional Survey on
Curriculum and Training Courses on Social Work and Social Welfare. Some
universities in the country already expressed their interest in this regional
project in February. However, due to some unprecedented circumstances,
questionnaire methodology had to be adjusted and changed to the Qualitative
Survey in the form of In-depth Focus Group Interviews.

Two Focus Group Interviews were conducted in April with representative of
Social Workers and Social Welfare Practitioners of the MSDHS of Thailand and
representatives of Social Service Workers of the Philippines respectively. The
result of the Focus Group Interviews reveals that the respondents agreed with the
curriculum modules designed by the Centre with additional emphases on Case
Management and Capacity Building Courses.

Preparation for Pilot Project
To ensure the smooth operation of future training courses, ATCSW deems it

important to conduct a pilot project to test the capacity of its staff members, the
suitable training materials, as well as technological facilities especially the
connectivity for online training. For such purposes, a three-day Pilot Project on
“Public Communication Skills for Social Service Workers” was planned for
June. However, preparation for this project had started in April. The trainees to
attend this project would be those social service workers within MSDHS.

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The project was designed to cover key courses on Work Competency Requirement
in Society 4.0, the Design of Info-graphic, and Production of VDO Clips by Social
Workers to Promote Public Awareness.

Workshop on Capacity Building for Social Workers

Like all professionals in every sector of the society, social service workers
have found themselves in a more difficult situation than ever to perform their
duties and help the people especially the vulnerable groups who are seriously
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While a number of clusters of virus-infected
people have been increasing and wide-spreading, some help-needed people have
no access to vaccination and health care service. Social Workers need to adjust
themselves to work for the affected people in such extreme situations.

Realizing the difficulty social workers have to face in performing their
duties to help the people in times of pandemic, ATCSW planned in May to conduct
a “Workshop on Increasing Synergy of Social Service Workforce amid
COVID-19 Crisis”. The objective of the workshop was to enhance work
performances of social workers and to provide a forum for them to share their
experiences and draw up “Guidelines” on how to jointly work together to provide
assistance to the people in time of difficult situations and depression. This
workshop was scheduled to be conducted in early August.

Strategic Communication Plan

Facebook
One of the ways to promote the activities of ATCSW is through Facebook.
Information about the work of the Centre was posted weekly, and on some special
occasions, in both Thai and English languages. The compilation of all posts in

April and May is shown below.

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April-May 2021

Webpage
In April and May, two articles were uploaded to the ATCSW website. First
is the articles entitled “What are Missing from Social Workers?” This article
explores on the skills that social workers need to improve their works. Another
article is on “Human Trafficking”. Both articles can be seen on http://atcsw-
thailand.m-society.go.th

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Conferences, Meetings and Consultations

Multi-Lateral Cooperation

1st Meeting of Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Roadmap to Implement
Ha Noi Declaration on Strengthening Social Work towards Cohesive and
Responsive ASEAN Community

The First Meeting of Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Roadmap to
Implement Ha Noi Declaration on Strangthening Social Work towards Cohesive
and Responsive ASEAN Community was convened in April 2021. The Executive
Director of ATCSW was invited to join this meeting to discuss activities to be
included in the first phase of the Roadmap for the next five years, especially on
priority areas such as the increase of Public Awareness of Social Work, the
Standardization of Curricula, the Accreditation and Certification of Training
Courses, as well as the Issuance of Social Worker License for those accomplished
the Training Curricula. The latter activity may take some more time to achieve, or
until the second half of the Roadmap, however.

ASEAN, China, UNDP 5th Symposium: Role of Youth in Achieving SDG

Also in April 2021, ATCSW was invited to attend and observe in the online
symposium organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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The symposium focused on the mutually reinforcing relationship between the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Youth, taking into consideration the
effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

Regional Workshop on Shelter Practices across ASEAN Member States
The ATCSW attended the online Regional Workshop to Support the

Exchanges of Knowledge and Experiences on Shelter Practices across ASEAN
Member States in April 2021. The purpose of the workshop was to include a forum
for discussion of recent developments and challenges in providing support to the
victims of the Human Trafficking crimes.

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High Level Cultural Forum (HLCF)
In May, ATCSW attended the High-Level Cultural Forum on Promoting an

Adaptive ASEAN Community of Greater Understanding, Tolerance and a Sense of
Regional Agendas among the Peoples of ASEAN. Through the creation of focused
policy and project initiatives, the Forum aimed to promote exchanges of
experiences, knowledge, and best practices, as well as to create critical suggestions
on how to sustainably cultivate a culture of peace, tolerance, and greater
understanding.

Forum on SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and
Business and Human Rights - An ASEAN-Swiss Peer-Learning Event

ATCSW attended the ASEAN Swiss Forum on SDG 12 (Responsible
Consumption and Production) and Business and Human Rights – A Peer Leaning
Event which was held at the end of May 2021. The current circumstances and
future of SDG 12 as well as business and human rights in Southeast Asia were
discussed at this session.

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Bi-Lateral Cooperation with Partners

Meeting with JICA

In May 2021, ATCSW had the
first meeting with Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) to enhance
mutual understanding of the work plans
and strategies of both organizations in
order to prepare ground-work for future
cooperation. Focusing on Technical and
Professional Assistance rather than
Financial Support, both sides agreed on some potential areas of cooperation such
as the development of online training courses, the designing of training materials,
and the transfer programme of knowledge and experience through the short-term
dispatch of expertise to ATCSW. JICA agreed to include the result of this
discussion into its consultation agendas with the Head Office in Tokyo and proposed
the follow-up meeting to be held in July.

Meeting with Thai PBS

ATCSW organized an online meeting with representatives of Thai PBS
Management team and Thai PBS World, the newly established international
section of the organization. The meeting addressed the potential and preparation
for possible collaborations, including the Pilot Project and the ASEAN Regional
Symposium, as well as the production of educational materials for ATCSW's
training courses.

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Internal Meetings and Consultations

Meeting with MSDHS on MOU with MFA

In preparation for the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs on foreign related missions, MSDHS convened an
internal meeting to brainstorm possible areas of cooperation to be included for
discussion between the two Ministries. Among the suggestions, ATCSW’s
operation project, for example the provision of training courses to CLMV, was also
proposed to be included in the agreement.

Internal Meeting with Foreign Affairs Division

To enhance internal cooperation
among various sections, ATCSW
participated in a Zoom meeting with the
Foreign Affairs Division. Each section
presented its job responsibilities and
welcomed a newly transferred
government official who would be
attached to work for the Centre and
undertake other duties as assigned.
Apart from the meeting of the Division, the Centre also arranged an
additional meeting with officials from the ASEAN Section to discuss its upcoming
mission proposals and budget plans. The meeting was to clarify background
information in order to settle the projects to be achieved with the allocated budget.

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Meeting on ATCSW’s Budget with Finance Division

In order to ensure smooth operation of the project that ATCSW has been
planning to conduct in coming months, ATCSW organized a cross-sectorial
meeting and consultation with other related divisions. In this context, the Centre
discussed details of budget allocation and payment procedure for the Pilot Project
it has planned to conduct with Finance Division in May 2021. This kind of inter-
division consultation for work cooperation has been held regularly.

ATCSW Internal Meetings

Weekly Meeting

With profound understanding of the importance of internal communication
as a key to promote strong team-work, ATCSW has arranged time for a weekly
Internal Meetings between Executive Director and staff members. The purpose of

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such regular meetings is to provide a forum for the members to share details of
their work as well as to discuss problems that may have occurred so that solutions
can be mutually recommended. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in April during
which staff members of the Centre had to follow the “Work from Home” scheme,
ATCSW also had to change its internal meeting from face-to-face to the online
platform instead. This pattern has become a normal practice for the Centre since.

Issues and Recommendations

The wide-spread of COVID-19 pandemic has changed the operational and
work pattern of ATCSW. All activities were conducted online in April and May
under strict Work from Home measure. This required greater responsibilities and
effectiveness of ATCSW staff members in carrying out their given tasks.

For most of the ATCSW's projects, logistics and transportation have become
a major challenge. Some meetings had to be canceled, while others were held
online. With no face-to-face discussion in the office and no training activity
undertaken during April and May, the Centre had to switch its work to focus on the
academic research and study. Two major topics of study were The Risk
Assessment and Management, and Training Needs Assessment, both of which can
be used as supporting documents for ATCSW to conduct all future activities.

Apart from the academic papers, ATCSW also planned for more online
activities in following months, which are the Pilot Project on “Public
Communication Skills for Social Service Workers” to be organized in June
followed by the Workshop on “Increasing Synergy of Social Service
Workforce amid COVID-19 Crisis” to be organized in August respectively.
Since the platform of the activities were changed due to the pandemic situation,
details of projects also had to be adjusted accordingly. There is a need for further
preparation, such as training videos, an online training channel, and speakers for
the live session. As a result, the Center must learn to design a flexible strategy that
can be adjusted and altered in response to current situations and constraints.

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