The Basic Professional Certificate in Social Work (SPAKS) programme is a new certification initiative introduced in 2023. It aims to enhance the existing competencies and professionalism of experienced staff in social work and welfare services who lack formal education in social work by providing exposure to knowledge, skills, and values in the field. This programme is conducted by ISM in collaboration with Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and the Department of Social Welfare (JKM).Participants of the SPAKS programme are officers under the Social Scheme (S) in the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) from Grades S19 to S44.

The framework of the SPAKS program is as follows: