Entry Requirements
Candidates should have –
- (a) registered as a registered social worker (Category 1) under the Social Workers Registration Ordinance, Chapter 505 [Note (1)]; and
- (b) (i) a Diploma in Social Work from a Hong Kong polytechnic / polytechnic university, or equivalent [Note (2)]; or
- (ii) a Certificate in Social Work awarded by the Academic Board of the Institute for Social Work Training, Hong Kong; or
- (iii) a Diploma in Social Work from a registered post-secondary college issued after the date of its registration, or equivalent [Note (2)]; and
- (c) met the language proficiency requirements of Level 2 or above in Chinese Language and English Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination or the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE), or equivalent [Note (3)]; and be able to speak fluent Cantonese; and
- (d) a pass result in the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) [Note (4)].
Note
- (1) Applicants who have not yet been registered as a registered social worker (Category 1) under the Social Workers Registration Ordinance (Cap. 505) may also apply. If selected, appointment will be subject to their being registered as a registered social worker (Category 1) under the Social Workers Registration Ordinance (Cap. 505) with documentary proof.
- (2) (i) Current final year students studying the course to obtain the qualification as required in the above entry requirement (b) may also apply. They must state in their applications the qualifications they would attain on completion of the final examination. If selected, appointment will be subject to, among others, their obtaining the requisite academic qualification within the 2026/27 academic year. (ii) Applicants must indicate in their applications the major subjects studied in their diploma programme. (iii) For civil service appointment purpose, Grade E in Chinese Language and English Language (Syllabus B) in the HKCEE before 2007 is accepted administratively as comparable to Level 2 in Chinese Language and English Language in the 2007 HKCEE and henceforth.
- (3) For civil service appointment purpose, Grade E in Chinese Language and English Language (Syllabus B) in the HKCEE before 2007 is accepted administratively as comparable to Level 2 in Chinese Language and English Language in the 2007 HKCEE and henceforth.
- (4) All applicants for civil service jobs will be assessed on their knowledge of the Basic Law and the National Security Law. A pass result in the BLNST is an entry requirement for all civil service jobs. Only those candidates who have passed the BLNST will be considered for appointment. For candidates who have not taken the relevant BLNST or have not attained a pass result in the relevant BLNST at the time of application, they may still apply for the job and arrangements will be made for them to take the relevant BLNST during the recruitment process.
Duties
A Social Work Assistant is mainly deployed on –
- (a) undertaking casework services;
- (b) planning, organising and implementing groups and programmes;
- (c) providing supervision, guidance and counselling services to persons under care in the Tuen Mun Children and Juvenile Home;
- (d) conducting assessment of the long term care needs of the elderly;
- (e) assisting in the implementation of social welfare schemes; and
- (f) handling calls from the public to the Departmental Hotline Service Unit.
(Note: A Social Work Assistant is required to undertake outdoor work and emergency duties; and may be required to work irregular hours and perform shift, on-call or standby duties.)
Terms of Appointment
A new recruit will normally be appointed on civil service probationary terms for three years. Upon passage of probation bar, he / she may be considered for appointment on the prevailing permanent terms.
General Notes
- (a) Candidates must be permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the time of appointment unless specified otherwise.
- (b) As an Equal Opportunities Employer, the Government is committed to eliminating discrimination in employment. The vacancy advertised is open to all applicants meeting the basic entry requirement irrespective of their disability, sex, marital status, pregnancy, age, family status, sexual orientation and race.
- (c) Civil service vacancies are posts on the civil service establishment. Candidates selected for these vacancies will be appointed on civil service terms of appointment and conditions of service and will become civil servants on appointment.
- (d) The entry pay, terms of appointment and conditions of service to be offered are subject to the provisions prevailing at the time the offer of appointment is made.
- (e) The information on the maximum pay point is for reference only and may be subject to changes.
- (f) Fringe benefits include paid leave, medical and dental benefits, and where appropriate, assistance in housing.
- (g) Where a large number of candidates meet the specified entry requirements, the recruiting department may devise shortlisting criteria to select the better qualified candidates for further processing. In these circumstances, only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend recruitment examination and/or interview.
- (h) It is Government policy to place people with a disability in appropriate jobs wherever possible. If a disabled candidate meets the entry requirements, he/she will be invited to attend the selection interview/written examination without being subject to further shortlisting. Applicants who have declared disabilities found suitable for appointment may be given an appropriate degree of preference over other applicants whose suitability for appointment is considered comparable to that of the former. The Government policy and other related measures on employment of persons with disabilities are set out in the booklet “Employ People Based on Their Abilities – Application for Government Jobs by Persons with Disabilities” which is available for reference on the Civil Service Bureau's website at https://www.csb.gov.hk under “Administration of the Civil Service – Appointments”.
- (i) Holders of academic qualifications other than those obtained from Hong Kong institutions/Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority may also apply but their qualifications will be subject to assessments on equivalence with the required entry qualifications. They should submit copies of their official transcripts and certificates by email.
- (j) Towards the application deadline, our on-line system would likely be overloaded due to large volume of applications. To ensure timely completion of your on-line application, it is advisable to submit the application as early as possible.
Contact Address
Appointments Section, Social Welfare Department, Room 1012, 10/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Enquiry Telephone
2574 4273
Closing Date(dd/mm/yyyy)
12/11/2026 23:59:00
Newspaper(s) Advertised and Date(s)
Ming Pao Daily News (30 October 2026 and 6 November 2026) and South China Morning Post (31 October 2026 and 7 November 2026)