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Who should register?

 

There are around 139,000 social services workers in Scotland.  Over the next few years we will register key social service workers.  So far the following groups have been identified:

 

Phase one

Registering now:

• Social workers (workers holding a Diploma in Social Work or equivalent)
• Students on the new social work honours degree and postgraduate programmes
• Care Commission officers
• Managers of residential child care services
• Residential child care workers with supervisory responsibilities

Registering during 2006:

• Managers of care home services for adults - January
• Managers of adult day care services - January
• Residential child care workers - July

 

Phase two

The following workers will be in phase two of registration

• Early education and child care workers     
  • Managers/lead practitioners - October 2006
  • Practitioners - March 2007
  • Support workers - October 2008
          
• Adult residential care workers
  • Supervisors- September 2007
  • Practitioner - January 2009
  • Support workers - April 2009
    
• Housing support services workers - autumn 2009

 

Protection of the title of “social worker” came into effect on 1 September 2005. The SSSC is urging all qualified social workers to submit their applications for registration as soon as possible.

 

Unlike social workers, no date has yet been set for protection of title for the remaining phase one workers and phase two workers. It is recognised that it will take time for workers to achieve required qualifications and that employers will have to phase access to registration in order to allow sufficient time for workers to achieve required qualifications.

 

Applicants to the Register who do not hold the required qualifications may, if they meet all the other eligibility criteria such as evidence of good character, be granted registration subject to the condition that they achieve the required qualification within a specific period of time – normally within the first three year period of registration. 

 

View the leaflet Getting ready for registration for more information on registration.