How many minutes per week must a qualified social worker spend on social service duties for each resident?

The correct answer is that a qualified social worker must spend 15 minutes per week on social service duties for each resident. This requirement is part of the regulatory standards established for social service provision in settings such as long-term care facilities and is intended to ensure that residents receive adequate attention and support for their social and emotional well-being.

The rationale behind this specific time frame stems from the need to balance sufficient interaction and monitoring of residents with the overall workload and capacity of social service professionals. It emphasizes the importance of regular engagement without overburdening the social worker, thus enabling them to effectively fulfill their roles while attending to the needs of multiple residents.

Understanding this requirement is crucial for social workers, as it frames their responsibilities and informs them about the minimum time they need to allocate for individual resident care within a given week. This standard also aligns with the broader goal of promoting resident welfare and social engagement in care settings.