We are the regulator for the social work, social care and early years workforce in Scotland.

Our work means the people of Scotland can count on social work, social care and early years services being provided by a trusted, skilled and confident workforce.

We protect the public by registering social workers, social care and early years workers, setting standards for their practice, conduct, training and education and by supporting their professional development. Where people fall below the standards of practice and conduct we can investigate and take action.

We:

• publish the national codes of practice for people working in social work, social care and early years services and their employers
• register people working in social work, social care and early years and make sure they adhere to our codes of practice
• promote and regulate their learning and development
• are the national lead for workforce development and planning for the social work, social care and early years workforce in Scotland.

The SSSC Register was set up under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 to regulate social service workers and to promote their education and training.

Read our Strategic Plan, Corporate Parenting Plans, Communications Strategy, Digital Strategy, Learning Strategy, Data and Intelligence Strategy, Involving People and other plans below.

Strategic Plan

SSSC Strategic Plan 2020-2023

Corporate Parenting Plan

SSSC Realising Potential 2020-2023

Children's Rights Report 2020-2023

Communications Strategy

Communications Strategy 2021-2024

Digital Strategy

Digital Strategy 2021-2024

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategy 2021-2024

Data and Intelligence Strategy

Data and Intelligence Strategy 2022-2025

Involving People

Involving People - Our engagement strategy and framework 2023-2026

The social service workforce

There are more than 203,000 people working in social services in Scotland. This includes social care workers, social workers, social work students and early years workers in a range of care services, in residential and day centres, community facilities and in people’s homes.

Sector skills council

Skills for Care and Development is the sector skills council for people providing social work, social care and children’s services in the UK. It is a partnership of four organisations:

• Social Care Wales
• Northern Ireland Social Care Council
• Skills for Care in England
• Scottish Social Services Council.

The SSSC undertakes the functions of the sector skills council in Scotland working in partnership with employers to develop the social service workforce and invest in workforce planning.

This includes developing National Occupational Standards (NOS) which underpin qualifications for registration and outline the skills, knowledge and understanding employers have told us are necessary for an effective workforce.