It has recently been announced, under plans tabled by ministers, that social workers will be regulated by the government from 2018.
A new government executive agency will replace the HCPC as the regulator for social workers in England, under regulations underpinning the Children and Social Work Bill.
The agency will be accountable to the education secretary and based in the Department for Education (DfE). It will be supported by the DfE and Department of Health with both departments sharing responsibility for social work policy.
Summary of what the new body will do:
- Publish new professional standards, aligning with the chief social workers’ knowledge and skills statements
- Set new standards for qualifying education and training, and reaccredit providers against these standards by 2020
- Maintain a single register of social workers, annotating it to denote specialist accreditations
- Set new social work specific CPD standards
- Oversee a robust and transparent fitness to practise system
- Approve post qualifying programmes and training in specialisms including Approved Mental Health Professionals and Best Interests Assessors
- Oversee the proposed new assessment and accreditation system for child and family social workers
- Oversee the required arrangements for succesfully completing the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
For more information, visit Community Care: http://www.communitycare.co.
Or view the Department of Education and Department of Health Regulating Social Workers Policy Statement:http://data.parliament.uk/