Training and Learning

Part of the GSCC's role as the regulatory body for the social care workforce in England is to regulate and promote high standards in all qualifying and post-qualifying social work education. We do this by:

• approving courses against set standards;

• carrying out inspections to ensure that the education offered
in England is of good quality and consistent at both degree and post-qualifying level.

In 2003 the professional qualification for social work became a degree in social work. The GSCC is responsible for approving degree courses and inspecting the institutions that provide them. Currently more than 80 institutions provide GSCC approved courses. Click here to see a list of providers in England.

In 2005 we introduced a revised post-qualifying framework for social workers to continue their professional development. Under this framework, social workers can study for a further university or college degree which has been approved by the GSCC and which will allow social workers to specialise in a chosen area of practice, to gain a teaching or management qualification. The majority of our new PQ courses began in autumn 2007, and more are being approved all the time.

We ensure quality by providing advice and guidance to universities and colleges when they seek to get a new course approved. In addition, once a course is up and running, the GSCC will inspect and report on it each year to make sure that standards are being met. After each annual cycle of reports, we publish an overview report - called the Social Work Education Quality-Assurance Report - which gives a national picture of social work education in England for the year.