Introduction
You don’t usually need a qualification to start your career in social care. Many employers hire people based on their values and positive attitude. You can find more information about career pathways and qualifications on our Careers website(Opens new window).
Registration
Once you’re working in a role that requires registration, you have three months to apply for registration with us. Once registered you must gain a qualification within an agreed time, if you don’t already hold one.
The standard qualification for workers in adult services is the SVQ Social Services and Healthcare, however we’ll also accept the SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) to allow people to move more easily between different types of services. Registrants moving to another type of service must complete additional, specific learning as part of their continuous professional learning (CPL) to ensure they develop and evidence the necessary knowledge, skills and expertise in working with adults or children.
There are more details of the qualifications we accept for registration on the Help with Register parts, fees and qualifications page.
Qualifications
SVQs
If you are working in a role and need to achieve a qualification it is likely you will work towards an SVQ. Your employer must support you to achieve a qualification if it is a requirement of your registration as set out in in the SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers.
SVQs are work-based qualifications available to people of all ages. As a sector skills council, we develop SVQs in partnership with industry and awarding bodies. SVQs assess skills, knowledge and values in relation to a specific job role or range of job roles.
SVQs are made up of units derived from National Occupational Standards (NOS). There are core and optional units and you can choose areas of study most suited to your role. Find more details on the National Occupational Standards website(Opens new window)
When you are ready to start your SVQ your employer will help you register with a training provider. This might be a college, or an independent or internal training centre. If you want to find training providers in your area see the Scottish Qualifications Authority(Opens new window) (SQA) website.
The key SVQs for workers in social care are:
- SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF levels 6, 7, and 9
- SVQ Care Services Leadership and Management at SCQF level 10.
SVQs are designed to promote flexibility and progression. For example, if you have an SVQ Social Services and Healthcare you can get credit towards the SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) at the same level.
Getting a qualification at college
You can gain a qualification in college before finding your first job in social care or while you work. There are full time, part time and distance learning options. There are also professional development qualifications for those in work.
If you don’t meet the entry requirement for the key course, HNC Social Services at SCQF level 7, you should speak to the college so they can help you start your learning at the right level. The SQA Care website(Opens new window) provides a useful overview of social service qualifications.
Here is a list of colleges offering social service qualifications.
Apprenticeships
Doing an apprenticeship
An apprentice is someone who:
- is employed
- is learning on-the-job
- earns a wage from day one
- works towards an industry-recognised qualification.
There are a range of social care apprenticeships. They are a good way of starting a career but there are also opportunities for experienced workers looking to progress.
Apprenticeships generally include a primary qualification, an SVQ, and extra learning opportunities in core skills or career skills depending on the SCQF level. Here are the available apprenticeships. You can read more about them on our Careers website(Opens new window).
- Foundation Apprenticeship Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 6
- Modern Apprenticeship Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 6 or 7
- Technical Apprenticeship Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 9
- Professional Apprenticeships Care Services Leadership and Management at SCQF level 10
Foundation apprenticeships are available to secondary school pupils. Speak to your careers adviser to find out more.
The best place to find modern apprenticeship vacancies is www.apprenticeship.scot(Opens new window) – search for ‘Social Services and Healthcare’.
If you’re interested in a technical or professional apprenticeship you should speak to your employer.
Leadership and management
Supervisors in care home, care at home and housing support services need to gain both a practice and a supervisory qualification. The main national practice award is the SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 7 or the HNC Social Services.
There are four ways to gain the additional supervisory qualification, which must contain at least 15 credits at SCQF level 7 or above of supervision or management theory and practice for a supervisor of a care service.
- PDA Health and Social Care Supervision at SCQF level 7.
- SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 9.
- Any two units from the list we have specified here from SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 9 and SVQ Care Services Leadership and Management at SCQF level 10.
- Another qualification that contains at least 15 credits at SCQF level 7 of supervision or management theory and practice specifically for a supervisor of a care service.
If you are considering progressing into a management role in the future, you may wish to consider options 2 or 3 above, as these would build towards meeting the requirements for managers in these care services.
Please note that qualifications must be specifically for a supervisor of a care service – we do not accept generic supervisory or management awards.
A manager of a care home, care at home or housing support service must gain a practice qualification and a management qualification. The main national practice award is the SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 9 and the main management award is the SVQ Care Services Leadership and Management at SCQF level 10.
Visit the Help with Register parts, fees and qualifications page to learn more about the qualification requirements for all roles.
Funding for qualifications
Part time fee grant
If you’re studying a part time course at SCQF level 7-10 and have an income of £25,000 or less you may be eligible for the part time fee grant funding, provided by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
The level of funding depends on the number of SCQF credits you undertake and the type of qualification you are studying. Find out more and apply on the part time funding page of the SAAS website(Opens new window).
Recognition of prior learning
What is RPL?
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) means you can get recognition for the knowledge and skills you have already gained, to support your personal and career development and continuous professional learning (CPL). Prior learning can come from life experiences, school, paid or unpaid work, short courses or learning at college or university.
You may be able to use your existing learning, providing evidence of your knowledge, skills and understanding, for RPL to gain credit points towards a qualification to shorten the normal period of study. You can gain some credit for RPL but it’s not possible to achieve an entire qualification just using RPL.
Not all learning providers accept RPL, check with your chosen learning provider before starting your RPL journey. It can also support your CPL.
Read the recognition of prior learning (RPL) guidance to help you through the process of how to gather evidence and how you learning provider will assess it.