A joint meeting of State Secretary Marián Valentovič and State Secretary Petr Pamula with representatives of the Chamber of Social Workers and Social Work Assistants and the Association of Social Work Educators was held at the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family.

The main topic of the meeting was the position of social worker in society and the discussion on how to better support people who help the most vulnerable on a daily basis. Training, the system of further education and possible legislative improvements in the field of social work were also discussed.

"They face difficult fates on a daily basis and in those moments they represent support and hope for people. It is our task to provide them with such conditions so that they can help with confidence and expertise," said State Secretary Marián Valentovič.

"We want to have a professional and open dialogue with all those involved in the education of social workers. Only in this way can we ensure that help comes from well-prepared and supported people," added State Secretary Peter Pamula.

The Department of Social Work of PdF UK enters into a significant cooperation with the Philip Pinel Psychiatric Hospital in Pezinok (PNPP) thanks to the conclusion of a Memorandum of Cooperation (on 26.2.2025) in the field of scientific and research activities - signed between the Dean of the Faculty prof. Žilková and the Director of the hospital Mr. Ing. Hromádek, PhD.

Our department is currently entering into scientific research plans with the Neuropsychiatric Clinic of SZU and PNPP and at the same time from AR 2025/2026 students of social work will be able to realize their professional practice in this unique psychiatric hospital in Slovakia. The research team from KSP PdF UK composed of prof. Vaska, doc. Hrozenská, doc. Šavrnochová, Dr. Čavojská and doc. Brnula will in the near future investigate the "social world" of people suffering from Huntington's disease and their families in the context of a multidisciplinary approach and the quality of life and needs of families of seniors and senior women suffering from dementia. At the same time, if the grant is awarded, KSP PdF UK will become a part (as a project partner) of an international scientific research project focused on the development of a model of mental health care in Huntington's disease in patients with high neuropsychiatric burden, which will be carried out with foreign universities and clinics and with clinics dealing with neurodegenerative diseases in Slovakia and the Slovak Society for Huntington's Disease Relief.

More information to follow :) We look forward to these new challenges.