Scottish Social Services Council - registration requirements: consultation on proposed changes

Section 2: Local Authority Social Worker Registration

In Scotland, the title of ‘social worker’ is protected in law. This means that for an individual to practice as a social worker in this country, they must hold an appropriate qualification and be registered with one of the social work regulators across the UK, i.e. the SSSC, Social Work England, Social Care Wales or the Northern Ireland Social Care Council. Each of these regulators set their own requirements for professional conduct and standards for continuous professional learning.

While most social workers practising in Scotland are registered with the SSSC, the current framework creates the potential for inconsistency in the professional standards social workers are held to and complicates the process for members of the public seeking to raise concerns. It means that individuals employed in Scotland but registered with another UK regulator cannot be investigated by the SSSC, if a concern is raised.

To promote consistency in professional standards and simplify public reporting mechanisms, we propose that all social workers working in Scotland are registered with the SSSC. While this is something that most employers already require through terms and conditions of employment, we believe that creating a national standard, provided for in legislation, will enhance the delivery of strong and consistent public protection across Scotland.