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Social Workers Law, 5756-1996

חוק העובדים הסוציאליים, תשנ"ו-1996

Published: 1996-03-08Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2025-04-06 · Last amended 2025-04-03✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-28
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Chapter VI: Disciplinary Adjudication

Disciplinary Offences§

27.

A social worker who has done any of the following has committed a disciplinary offence:

(1)conducted himself or herself in a manner unbecoming the profession;
(2)violated the rules of professional ethics established by the Minister after consultation with the Council;
(3)obtained registration in the Register by misrepresentation;
(4)displayed irresponsibility or serious negligence in the performance of duties;
(5)was convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude or of an offence indicating that the person lacks the responsibility required to engage in social work;
(6)violated a provision of sections 7 and 8.

Composition of the Disciplinary Committee§

28.
(a)The Minister shall appoint a disciplinary committee of three members whose function is to hear and decide disciplinary offences (hereinafter – the Disciplinary Committee).
(b)The members of the Disciplinary Committee shall be—
(1)a person qualified to be appointed as a judge of a Magistrate's Court, proposed by the Minister of Justice, who shall serve as chairperson of the Committee;
(2)an employee of the Ministry of Labour and Welfare who holds an academic qualification;
(3)a social worker with seniority of at least five years, upon the recommendation of the Council; if the Council has not made such a recommendation within 45 days of the date of the Minister's request, a social worker as aforesaid appointed by the Minister.

Term of Office§

29.
(a)A member of the Disciplinary Committee shall be appointed for a term of three years, but may be reappointed, provided that no member shall be appointed for more than three consecutive terms of office; the expiry of a term of appointment does not disqualify a committee member from concluding a matter in which deliberations have already commenced.
(b)The appointment of members of the Disciplinary Committee shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette).

Termination of Office§

30.

The office of a member of the Disciplinary Committee shall be terminated by the delivery of notice to that effect by the Minister, upon the occurrence of any of the following:

(1)the member has resigned from membership of the Disciplinary Committee by delivering a letter of resignation to the Minister;
(2)the member is, in the opinion of the Minister, permanently unable to perform the member's duties;
(3)the member has been convicted of a disciplinary offence under any law, including this Law, or has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude;
(4)the member has been declared bankrupt or a receiver has been appointed over the member's assets by a court;
(5)in the case of a member of the Disciplinary Committee who is a social worker — if that member has ceased to be a social worker.

Suspension from Office§

31.

The Minister may suspend a member of the Disciplinary Committee from office by delivering notice to that effect upon the occurrence of any of the following:

(1)the member has been put on trial for a disciplinary offence under any law, including this Law — until the conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings against the member;
(2)an indictment has been filed against the member for an offence involving moral turpitude — until judgment is given;
(3)in the case of a member of the Disciplinary Committee who is a social worker — if that member's registration in the Register has been suspended or restricted under this Law — until such suspension or restriction has been lawfully cancelled.

Independence§

32.

In the performance of duties, a member of the Disciplinary Committee is subject to no authority other than the authority of the law.

Quorum§

33.

The Disciplinary Committee shall not sit in a composition of fewer than two members, including the chairperson.

Prosecutor and Investigator and Their Functions§

34.
(a)The prosecutor before the Disciplinary Committee shall be the Legal Adviser of the Ministry of Labour and Welfare or an advocate authorised by the Legal Adviser for that purpose; the Attorney General or a representative may serve as prosecutor if the Attorney General has so decided in accordance with the circumstances of the matter.
(b)A complaint concerning a disciplinary offence shall be filed by a prosecutor.
(c)Complaints concerning disciplinary offences of social workers shall be investigated by social workers who are State employees appointed by the Minister (in this section – investigators), unless a prosecutor has decided, in relation to a complaint concerning a particular disciplinary offence, in whole or in part, to conduct the investigation personally; investigators appointed under this subsection shall act in accordance with the directions of the prosecutor.
(d)For the purpose of exercising their powers under this Law, the prosecutor and the investigator shall have the powers conferred by section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Testimony), and section 3 of that Ordinance shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to an investigation conducted by a prosecutor or an investigator.

Striking Off Does Not Prevent Filing of a Complaint§

35.

The striking of a social worker's name from the Register, or the suspension of registration in the Register, shall not prevent a prosecutor from filing a complaint against that person before the Disciplinary Committee, provided that the complaint is filed within 12 months of the date of the striking off or the suspension. The recording of a restriction in the Register in respect of a social worker shall not prevent a prosecutor from filing a complaint against that person before the Disciplinary Committee.

Proceedings before the Disciplinary Committee§

36.
(a)The Disciplinary Committee shall sit in camera.
(b)Disciplinary proceedings shall be conducted in the presence of a prosecutor and the person against whom the complaint has been filed (hereinafter – the respondent), but the Disciplinary Committee may conduct proceedings in the absence of the respondent if the respondent's defence counsel appears in the respondent's stead, or if the respondent is absent from the hearing without sufficient reason, after having been warned that if absent without sufficient reason the Committee may hear the matter in the respondent's absence.
(c)The Disciplinary Committee may, for special reasons that shall be recorded, permit the presence of a person other than those referred to in subsection (b) at the proceedings, in whole or in part.

Disqualification of a Member of the Disciplinary Committee§

37.
(a)A prosecutor or a respondent may request that a member of the Disciplinary Committee disqualify himself or herself from sitting in judgment if circumstances exist that are capable of creating a genuine apprehension of a miscarriage of justice in the hearing of the complaint.
(b)If a plea of disqualification is raised against a member of the Disciplinary Committee, the Disciplinary Committee shall decide on it immediately and before giving any other decision.
(c)A prosecutor or a respondent may appeal against a decision of the Disciplinary Committee on a matter of disqualification to the District Court within 30 days of the date of service of the decision.

Rules of Procedure§

38.

The Minister of Justice, after consultation with the Minister, shall prescribe the rules of procedure before the Disciplinary Committee; as long as Regulations have not been made, or in a matter for which no provision has been made in the Regulations, the Committee shall act in the manner it considers most just and expedient.

Rules of Evidence§

39.

The Disciplinary Committee is not bound by the rules of evidence except to the extent prescribed in Regulations made by the Minister of Justice in consultation with the Minister.

Disciplinary Penalties§

40.

If the Disciplinary Committee finds that the respondent has committed a disciplinary offence, it may take against the respondent one or more of the following measures:

(1)a warning;
(2)a reprimand;
(3)a fine of up to NIS 15,600; the Minister of Justice may, by Order, vary the said amount in accordance with changes in the Consumer Price Index, in the manner prescribed in section 64 of the Penal Law, 5737-1977 (hereinafter – the Penal Law);
(4)suspension of registration in the Register for a period of up to 5 years, including any period of suspension under section 47, if any;
(5)striking off from registration in the Register.

Conditional Penalty§

41.
(a)If a Disciplinary Committee has decided to impose on a respondent a disciplinary measure as referred to in section 40(4) or (5), it may order that the disciplinary measure decided upon shall be conditional.
(b)A respondent against whom it has been decided to impose a conditional disciplinary measure shall not be subject to that measure unless the respondent commits, within a period fixed in the decision of the Disciplinary Committee which shall not be less than one year and shall not exceed three years (hereinafter – the conditional period), one of the disciplinary offences specified in the decision (hereinafter – an additional offence), and the Disciplinary Committee finds, within the conditional period or thereafter, that the respondent has committed an additional offence as aforesaid.
(c)The conditional period shall commence on the date on which the Disciplinary Committee gives its decision concerning the imposition of the conditional disciplinary measure.
(d)If the Disciplinary Committee has decided to impose a disciplinary measure on a respondent by reason of an additional offence, the Committee shall not prescribe that the disciplinary measure shall be imposed conditionally.
(e)Where a conditional disciplinary measure has been prescribed in respect of a person and the Disciplinary Committee has decided to impose on that person a disciplinary measure as referred to in section 40(4) or (5) by reason of an additional offence, the Disciplinary Committee shall order the activation of the conditional disciplinary measure, unless it has decided to extend the conditional period as referred to in subsection (f). The Disciplinary Committee may order that the activation of the conditional disciplinary measure shall be subject to the outcome of the appeal against the imposition of the disciplinary measure by reason of the additional offence.
(f)A Disciplinary Committee that has decided to impose a disciplinary measure on a respondent by reason of an additional offence may, instead of activating the conditional disciplinary measure, extend, on one occasion only, the conditional period or renew it for a further period not exceeding two years. If the Disciplinary Committee extended the conditional period for a further period before the expiry of the first conditional period, the further conditional period shall commence upon the expiry of the first conditional period; if the Disciplinary Committee renewed the conditional period after the first conditional period had expired, the further conditional period shall commence on the date on which the decision is given, all subject to any contrary order of the Disciplinary Committee.

Renewal of a Struck-Off Registration§

42.

A person whose name has been struck off the registration in the Register pursuant to section 40(5) may, upon the expiry of 5 years from the date of the striking-off decision, submit to the Registrar an application for re-registration, and if the Registrar is satisfied, after consultation with the Registration Committee, that circumstances exist that justify doing so, the Registrar may renew the registration.

Notice to Complainant§

43.

Where a disciplinary complaint was filed on the basis of a complaint by a certain person, the prosecutor shall notify the complainant as aforesaid of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee in the matter of the complainant's complaint.

Appeal§

44.

A prosecutor and a respondent may, within 45 days after service of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee pursuant to sections 40 or 41, appeal against it to the District Court; the filing of the appeal shall not prevent or delay execution of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee against which the appeal was filed, unless the District Court has decided otherwise.

Disqualification on Grounds of Mental Illness§

45.

If the Disciplinary Committee had reasonable concern that, by reason of mental illness, the respondent is incapable of standing trial or is not responsible for the act or omission that is the subject of the complaint, it may request the Registrar to act in accordance with the provisions of Chapter V; however, if the respondent's registration in the Register has not been deleted or suspended pursuant to the provisions of Chapter V, the Disciplinary Committee shall continue with the disciplinary proceeding.

Publication§

46.

The Disciplinary Committee may, after having heard the prosecutor and the respondent, order the publication of its decision or part thereof, with or without the name of the respondent, in such manner as it shall determine.

Suspension§

47.
(a)The Disciplinary Committee may, upon the application of a prosecutor, instruct the Registrar to suspend the registration in the Register of a respondent or of a social worker against whom an indictment has been filed for an offence as referred to in section 27(5), until a final decision is given by the Disciplinary Committee or by the court, as it shall determine; if a final decision has not been given within nine months from the date of suspension of the registration, the suspension shall lapse; however, the Disciplinary Committee may extend the said period by additional periods not exceeding nine months each, until the date on which the final decision is given.
(b)The provisions of section 44 shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to a decision to suspend under this section.

Double Jeopardy§

48.

Punishment or acquittal in criminal proceedings shall not prevent the Disciplinary Committee from taking measures in respect of a disciplinary offence against a person registered in the Register on account of the same act or omission, and the taking of measures or acquittal by the Disciplinary Committee shall not prevent that person's prosecution in criminal proceedings.

Disciplinary Proceedings and Criminal Proceedings§

48a.

Where an indictment has been filed against a social worker in respect of an act or omission that also constitutes grounds for proceedings before the Disciplinary Committee under this Law, the Disciplinary Committee shall stay its proceedings on the complaint until a final judgment is given in the criminal trial, unless the Committee has decided otherwise for special reasons that shall be recorded.

Disciplinary Jurisdiction under Another Enactment§

49.

A social worker who is subject to disciplinary jurisdiction under another enactment as well may be tried for a disciplinary offence under this Law even if already tried for the same act or omission under the other enactment, and may likewise be tried as aforesaid under the other enactment even if already tried for a disciplinary offence under this Law, provided that a fine shall not be imposed on that person more than once in respect of the same act or omission.

Judgment in Criminal Trial§

50.

The findings and conclusions in the verdict of a final judgment in criminal proceedings that convicts the respondent shall be deemed to have been proved in the disciplinary proceeding against that respondent.

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Chapter VII: The Council for Social Work

Appointment and Composition of the Council for Social Work§

51.

The Minister shall appoint a Council for Social Work, which shall comprise 31 members, and its composition shall be as follows:

(1)the Minister, or a person appointed by the Minister for that purpose, who shall serve as Chairperson of the Council;
(2)two representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Welfare, one of whom shall be a social worker;
(3)a representative of the National Insurance Institute;
(4)a representative of the Ministry of Health;
(5)a representative of the Ministry of Defence;
(6)a representative of the Israel Defence Forces;
(7)a representative of the Civil Service Commission;
(8)five representatives of the board of directors of the schools of social work;
(9)two representatives of voluntary organisations in the field of welfare, as determined by the Minister;
(10)three social workers representing the Centre of Local Government;
(11)six social workers representing the Social Workers' Association;
(12)three public representatives, as determined by the Minister;
(13)one social worker from among the social workers practising the social work profession independently, as determined by the Minister;
(14)three representatives of organisations representing the population in need of welfare services, as determined by the Minister.

Function of the Council§

52.

The Council shall advise the Minister on matters in respect of which the Minister is required to consult the Council under this Law and on other matters relating to the practice of social work.

Term of Office§

53.

A member of the Council shall serve for three years and may be reappointed; if a member's position falls vacant, another member shall be appointed in the same manner in the member's place and shall serve until the end of the term of office of the predecessor; a person who has served as a member of the Council for two consecutive terms may be reappointed to it only after an interval of 3 consecutive years.

Committees§

54.
(a)The Council may appoint, from among its members and from outside its members, standing committees and committees for specific matters, determine their functions and powers, and delegate to them any of its powers.
(b)The Council shall appoint, from among its members and from outside its members, a standing committee that shall serve as an information committee for the purposes of section 7; the said information committee shall comprise 3 members, one of whom shall be a person qualified to be appointed as a judge of a Magistrate's Court and who shall serve as Chairperson, and one of whom shall be a social worker.

Participation in Meetings§

55.

The Registrar and the Chairperson of the Registration Committee may participate in meetings of the Council and its committees, without the right to vote.

Rules of Procedure§

56.

The Council and any committee appointed by it may determine their own rules of procedure, insofar as these have not been determined under this Law.

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