About the SSSC Code

What is the Scottish Social Services Council Code of Practice for Social Service Workers?

The SSSC Code of Practice for Social Service Workers says that workers must:

• protect your rights and make sure you are listened to
• earn and keep your trust as a person who uses social services or cares for someone who does
• help you to keep yourself and others safe from harm
• help you to be independent and be able to live your life and take risks in a careful way
• work to make sure you and other people are confident in social services
• do the best job they can.

The SSSC also publishes the Code of Practice for Employers of Social Service Workers. The SSSC Code of Practice for Employers, which is in the same booklet as the SSSC Code of Practice for Social Service Workers, says that employers must make sure they only employ suitable people to carry out this work and that they must support workers to do their jobs well.

Why is the SSSC Code of Practice for Social Service Workers important for me?

The people who work with you in care services are important people in your lives. They might be social workers or residential child care workers who work together to make sure you’re well looked after. People working in social services now have to work to the SSSC Code of Practice for Social Service Workers. The SSSC was set up a few years ago to help raise standards in social services, to publish the Code and to set up a register of social service workers. The Code sets out standards for these workers and helps you know what you can expect from the people that work with you.