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

The revised guidelines for the financial year 2008/09 set out the arrangements for funding for practice learning opportunities associated with professional qualifying training for social work students. They replace the original guidelines which were effective from September 2004 to March 2008 and issued by the then Scottish Executive.

• Guidelines on funding for Practice Learning
• Practice Learning funding spreadsheet
• Guidance on completeing the Practice Learning funding spreadsheet
• Practice Learning fees process chart

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. Please view the Mental Health Officer Awards 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, 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. Read the Consultation Report on the 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.

Practice Learning Qualifications (Social Services)

The Practice Learning Qualifications (Social Services) (PLQ(SS)) are a new set of qualifications tol enable those involved in supporting practice learning at all levels of their organisation to gain recognition for their knowledge and skills. PLQ(SS) programmes are approved by the SSSC under the Rules and Requirements for Specialist Training for Social Service Workers in Scotland 2005.

The qualifications are located within the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and are staged at different levels to reflect the range of roles people undertake in supporting learning, not just of social work students, but also in the wider workforce. Credit rating and SCQF levelling is as follows:

• Stage 1 SCQF level 7 (20 credits)
• Stage 2 SCQF level 9 (40 credits)
• Stage 3 SCQF level 10 (60 credits)
• Stage 4 SCQF level 11 (60 Credits).

Guidance on claiming Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer towards the PLQ(SS) has been developed to assist candidates who may hold other relevant qualifications or experience.

The Guidance comprises four documents:

RPL mapping (484.57 kB)	Maps a range of other awards commonly held by social service workers against the PLQ(SS) for purposes of RPL and credit transfer
RPL guidelines (119.44 kB)	Guidelines to assist programme providers develop and operate RPL processes within the PLQ(SS)
RPL case study (691 kB)	Different case studies illustrating how RPL for PLQ(SS) might work
RPL SVQ 4 and A1 case study (475.68 kB)	A case study illustrating how someone with SVQ 4 Social Care (Adults) and Assessor Award (A1) might use this for RPL for the PLQ(SS)

Further information about the PLQ(SS) is available on Practice Learning website.