Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the social service workforce

The report sets out the objectives for CPD for the social service workforce in Scotland - social workers, social care workers and those who work in early education and child care. It will apply to workers at all levels and stages of their careers. It is underpinned by the Codes of Practice and encourages employers and employees to make effective use of both formal and informal learning.

Download the Continuing Professional Development for the social service workforce report.

Rules and requirements for specialist training for social service workers in Scotland 2005

The SSSC has developed a set of Rules and Requirements for Specialist Training for Social Service Workers in Scotland. The first course to be considered under these Rules will be the Practice Learning Qualifications (Social Services). In future these Rules will apply to a limited number of other courses, yet to be determined by the SSSC.

Post Qualifying Consortium (PQC)

The PQC closed in March 2008. If anyone has enquiries in respect of this please contact Brian Smith, Learning and Development Adviser at brian.smith@sssc.uk.com

Funding for Practice Learning

Guidelines on funding for practice learning these guidelines set out the arrangements for funding for practice learning opportunities associated with professional qualifying training for social work students from September 2004.

Mental Health Officer Award

SSSC Council Members agreed the new standards and practice competences for the Mental Health Officer Award at full Council on the 30 October 2007. Click on the standards for further information.

Background

The SSSC was asked by the Scottish Government, as part of its duties under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, to lead in the development of a replacement for the Mental Health Social Work Award (MHSWA).

Consultation

As part of the development of the new award, draft standards and competences for the Mental Health Officer Award were circulated for consultation during a three month consultation period that ended in July 2007. The consultation included wide distribution of an electronic/paper questionnaire plus a series of four events held in each of the Learning Network areas, specifically Aberdeen, Perth, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Click here to read the report regarding the consultation on the draft standards and competences for the Mental Health Officer Award (MHOA).

Mental Health Social Work Award

The current Mental Health Social Work Award will continue to run until March 2009.