Scottish Social Services Council

Conduct - an introduction

 

The SSSC is responsible for registering and regulating people who work in social services in Scotland. Our role is to increase protection of people who use social services, to raise standards of practice and to increase public confidence in the sector. The SSSC aims to protect people who use services and their carers by promoting high standards of conduct and by taking action where the public are at risk.

 

When a social service worker applies to register with the SSSC they must agree to abide by the Code of Practice for Social Service Workers which sets out the conduct expected of social service workers and informs people who use social services and the public about the standards they can expect.

 

Making a complaint about a social service worker
 

The SSSC can investigate the conduct of registered social service workers. When an allegation of misconduct comes to our attention, we will consider whether there is a question about a social service worker’s suitability to remain on the Register.

You can download the complaint form here.
You can download the complaint guidance here.
 

The SSSC Conduct Rules and the Scheme of Delegation give the SSSC discretion not to refer a complaint about a registered social service worker to a Preliminary Proceedings Sub-committee.

An SSSC policy sets out a clear framework within which this discretion will be exercised by officers.  The policy was developed in order to ensure that the SSSC operates in a transparent and accountable manner and is in a position to explain its decisions in line with this framework.  Please click here to view the Officer discretion in referring to complaints to a Preliminary Proceedings Sub-committee.

 

You can download a copy of the leaflet What happens when a complaint is made to the SSSC about a registered worker here.

 

Conduct Hearings

Attending Conduct Hearings held in public

 

Members of the public wishing to attend a conduct hearing should contact Audrey Wallace, Committee Services Administrator on 01382 207212 or
audrey.wallace@sssc.uk.com

 

Media wishing to attend a conduct hearing

Please view guidance for media wishing to attend Conduct Hearings by clicking the link below.

SSSC Conduct Hearings: guidelines for media wishing to attend


Registration Rules and Conduct Rules


The Registration Rules explain how social service workers are placed on the Register. The Conduct Rules set down how we will investigate and hold hearings about allegations of misconduct against registrants.

Please click to view the Registration Rules and Conduct Rules.

Conduct Report


The SSSC has recently published a conduct report and summary report about the SSSC's work in relation to initial and continued suitability for registration. Please click the links below for more information.

View the full conduct report

View the summary conduct report


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