Policies

As well as being a regulator, the GSCC contributes to development of public policy in social care and regulation by issuing briefings, participating in public consultations and reviewing its policies. More details of the GSCC’s policies will be posted on this site in due course.

The GSCC believes that there are specific actions in relation to workforce development that would help to sustain and improve good practice. These can be summarised as follows:

• Undertaking work to understand better the effective deployment of the workforce.
• Specialist pathways in the initial degree, after a period of generic training.
• Strengthening and making more specific the requirements relating to post-registration training and learning;
• Specifying post-qualifying training requirements for those involved in safeguarding work against agreed national standards;
• Making the code of practice for employers mandatory and enforceable

Deployment of the workforce
A model of workforce supply and demand is urgently needed to ensure that the right number of social workers are being trained in the right regions. Demand for the degree should be linked to professional recruitment shortages. Local authorities have reported staff vacancies of as much as 10% for front-line social workers and children and family services.

Social work education
Social work education and training must be considered a core part of developing a workforce equipped with the skills, knowledge, resilience and flexibility to ensure protection for vulnerable children and respond to a changing landscape of service delivery.

Whilst there is need for specialist pathways in initial training for those wanting to work with children and families, as well as those who wish to work in mental health settings or with older or disabled people, we believe that specialisation must follow an initial period of generic training that should contain aspects of working with both children and adults. Such broad level training is critical for future children’s social workers, as a central component of child neglect and abuse is often family breakdown or alcohol or drug abuse amongst parents and family members.

Practice placements (which account for 50 per cent of a student’s time on the degree) are a vital part of developing high quality training. The GSCC would therefore like to see the introduction of a formal requirement for local partnerships between HEIs and employers to ensure that appropriate and high quality placements are available for all students.

Post-qualification training
The social work degree should only be the start of a process of continuous learning throughout a social worker’s development career. In 2007, the GSCC introduced a new framework of post-qualifying (PQ) awards for social workers. This includes a specialist qualification in working with Children, Young People and their Families.

We believe that all social workers should achieve a specialist PQ qualification in a relevant area early in their career to ensure that their learning on the social work degree is consolidated in practice. Of particular urgency is the need to introduce compulsory post-qualifying training for anyone working in child protection.

Employer’s code of practice
It is vital that social workers have access to support in the early stage of their career and beyond as well as high quality post qualifying training throughout their career. Employer’s support is crucial to achieving this.

Whilst the GSCC has helped to develop high-quality post qualification training, it cannot compel employers to support social workers to undertake this training. We were pleased that Lord Laming’s report endorsed the need for the GSCC’s code of practice for employers to become mandatory, and the government has endorsed this recommendation. The code sets out an employer’s responsibility in respect to training, support and information sharing.

Briefings on legislation

Most recent briefings:

Health and Social Care Act 2008:
The Act established the joint health and social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission, responsible for regulation and registration of certain health and social care service providers.

House of Lords, Grand Committee

Children and Young Persons Bill:
Bill to reform the statutory framework for the care system, to ensure that children and young people receive high quality care and support and to drive improvements in the delivery of services focused on the needs of the child.

House of Commons, 2nd Reading
House of Lords, Report

Consultations:

GSCC consultation: regulation of personal assistants

GSCC consultation: Post-Registration Training and Learning

GSCC consultation: Single Equality Scheme

Consultation responses

GSCC response to Putting People First: Working to Make it Happen

GSCC response to the DH consultation on the framework for the registration of health and adult social care providers

GSCC response to the CWDC consultation: NQSW Outcome Statements and Guidance

Speeches:

Mike Wardle, CEO, GSCC - 6 May 2008, GSCC Annual Conference

Ivan Lewis MP, Care Services Minister - 6 May 2008, GSCC Annual Conference