Compulsory registration
| When do I need to register? | Applications must be submitted to the SSSC | Date of required registration |
| Social workers | When commencing as a social worker for the first time you should achieve registration within six months of employment | September 2005 |
| Social work students | You should apply for registration when you are offered a place on a social work course | May 2004 |
| Care Commission Officers |
You should achieve registration within six months of taking up employment |
31 March 2010 |
| Residential child care workers | ||
| All residential child care workers | You should achieve registration within six months of taking up employment | 30 September 2009 |
| Workers in adult day care services | ||
| Managers |
You should achieve registration within six months of taking up employment |
30 November 2009 |
| Workers in care home services for adults | ||
| Managers |
You should achieve registration within six months of taking up employment |
30 November 2009 |
| Supervisors | 30 September 2011 | 30 March 2012 |
| Practitioners | 28 September 2012 | 29 March 2013 |
| Support workers | 30 September 2014 | 30 September 2015 |
| Workers in day care of children services | ||
| Managers and lead practitioners |
You should achieve registration within six months of taking up employment |
30 November 2010 |
| Practitioners | 30 September 2010 | 30 September 2011 |
| Support workers | 31 December 2013 | 30 June 2014 |
| Workers in school care accommodation services** | ||
| Managers of school hostels | 31 May 2012 | 30 November 2012 |
| Managers of residential special schools | ||
| Managers of independent boarding schools | ||
| Supervisors in school hostels | 31 October 2012 | 30 April 2013 |
| Supervisors in residential special schools | ||
| House staff in school hostels | 31 May 2013 | 30 November 2013 |
| House staff in residential special schools | ||
| House staff in independent boarding schools | ||
| Workers in housing support services | ||
| Managers | 31 July 2013 | 31 January 2014* |
| * Any new manager of a housing support service who is not registered with another regulatory body, must achieve registration within six months of commencing employment. This requirement applies to all new managers who commence employment after 21 January 2011. | ||
| Supervisors | To be announced | 2017 |
| Support workers | To be announced | |
| Workers in care at home services | ||
| Managers | 31 July 2013 | 31 January 2014* |
| *Any new manager of a care at home service who is not registered with another regulatory body, must achieve registration within six months of commencing employment. This requirement applies to all new managers who commence employment after 21 January 2011. | ||
| Supervisors | To be announced | 2017 |
| Support workers | To be announced | 2020 |
**Workers in some services registered with the care Inspectorate as School Care Accommodation services are required to register as Residential Childcare Workers. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our helpline on 0845 60 30 891
Are you registered as a student social worker and also working in social services?
What compulsory registration means for social workers
Do you work in social services?
What does compulsory registration mean for employers and managers?
