• Successfully negotiated with medical aid schemes to recognize social workers in private practice as valuable service providers. In 1993 social workers in private practice were allocated practice numbers. The recognition of social workers in private practice as legitimate service providers, qualifying for medical aid reimbursements, is conditional upon their professional registration with SACSSP, and accreditation by SAASWIPP.
  
  
• Since the allocation of practice numbers, SAASWIPP continued to negotiate with the relevant medical aid councils and statutory bodies for ongoing inclusion of the various services offered by social workers in private practice, and for equitable and reasonable tariffs and tariff increases.
  
  
• Developed and instituted ongoing opportunities for professional development and training for its members. The provincial committees organize regular workshops and seminars for its members, and CPD points are awarded for most of the training workshops. Details of such events and workshops are publicized in the newsletters.
  
  
• Established accessible support groups and peer review groups for social workers in private practice.
  
  
• Liaised with, and represented social workers in private practice in negotiations and dealings with provincial, government and civil society.
  
  
• Participated in, and influenced relevant social legislation and policy development.
  
  
• Kept its members informed of and up to date with relevant and latest policies, legislation and developments in practice.

• SAASWIPP creates and provides marketing opportunities for social workers in private practice.
  
  
• An up-to date resource directory containing details of all its members is published and circulated on a regular basis, and direct client referrals to members are done through the SAASWIPP national office, its provincial committees and its members.
  
  
• Members are furthermore afforded the opportunity to promote their services, and disseminate relevant information through the publication and circulation of its newsletters, which is sent to members, other health care and social service providers and service delivery organizations, and corporate and public organizations.
  

Specific services provided by social workers in private practice:

• Adoption.
  
• Industrial / Occupational social work.
  
• School social work.
  
• Psychiatric social work.
  
• Clinical social work.
  
• Foster care.
  
• Custody cases – Divorce counselling and mediation.
  
• Hypnotherapy.
  
• Community development.
• Forensic social work.
  
• Geriatric social work.
  
• Immigration counselling.
  
• Legal social work.
  
• Tracing of birth parents.
  
• Crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
  
• Trauma.
  
• Disability counselling.
  
• Life skills and personal development.