• Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About IFSW
  • Join
  • Contact
  • Member login

International Federation of Social Workers

Translate:

International Federation of Social Workers

  • What is Social Work?
    • Global Definition of Social Work
    • Meet Social Workers from around the world
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Find your region
    • IFSW Africa
    • IFSW Asia and Pacific
    • IFSW Latin America and Caribbean
    • IFSW Europe
    • IFSW North America
  • Information Hub
  • IFSW Commissions
    • United Nations
    • Human Rights Commission
    • Ethics Commission
    • Interim Education Commission
  • Social Work Action
    • The Global Agenda
    • The Global Observatory
    • World Social Work Day
  • Events
  • Journal
  • Shop
  • (0)

Changes in the regulation of social workers in England

Information Type: NewsTopic: Law

September 19, 2012

There has been a big change in the way social workers are registered in the United Kingdom following a decision imposed by the government without consultation and implemented on 1 August 2012.

On 1 August 2012 the General Social Care Council closed down and the regulation of the social work profession and social work education in England transferred to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).  The Care Councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland remain in existence and will work jointly with the HCPC which only regulates social work in England.

Registration of internationally qualified social workers

Many social workers who qualify in other countries are interested in working in the UK and a large number are already registered and working there.  This briefing provides information for qualified social workers who would like to seek work as a social worker there.

Social workers who wish to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and have undergone professional training abroad can find information about how to apply here.  It is now necessary to provide at least one professional reference and a background check consent form. The additional forms required are included in the International application pack.  Social work is a protected title in the UK and anybody wishing to work as or call themselves a social worker must be registered with the HCPC.

GSCC legacy publications

The GSCC website and all of its content, including research and other publications, has been placed in the National Archives and is available for reference. The GSCC archive is available here.

The GSCC published a series of research reports examining its achievements and legacy and developments in social work over the period of its existence (2001-2012).  These give a significant insight into social work in England (and the UK) over this period.  All the reports are available free from the National Archives.

The reports include

Regulating social workers 2001-12

Regulating social work education 2001-12

GSCC targeted inspections of Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) courses in England (2011-12)

Involving people who use services and their carers in the work of the GSCC (2010-12)

The supply of social work practice placements: Employers’ views

Professional Boundaries in Social Work

The campaign to create a regulatory body for social work lasted for many decades.  The British Association of Social Workers played the leading role in that campaign, for many years being the only voice calling for the regulation of social workers.  The campaign was later taken up by an alliance of several bodies which eventuially resulted in legislation.  BASW has always argued that regulation and registration was needed both to protect the interests of the public and to raise standards of practice and thereby to raise and protect the status of the profession.

This dual objective is still possible under the umbrella of the new regulator which regulates several professions most of which, apart from social work, are practicing mainly within the health service.  It remains to be seen how well the new Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) manages to achieve a consistent approach across such different professional groups and how this will affect the identity and values of social work.

 

Keywords: England, regulationRegion: EuropeLanguage: English

Primary Sidebar

Key documents

  • Global Definition of Social Work
  • Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles 
  • The Role of Social Work in Social Protection Systems

Information Hub search

Search below for news, policies, reports, publications, and book reviews or go to the information hub.








Footer

About IFSW

The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) is a global organisation striving for social justice, human rights and social development through the promotion of social work, best practice models and the facilitation of international cooperation.

Send me updates

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Join us on Twitter

IFSWIFSW@IFSW·
21 Mar

United Nation Geneva Celebration of World Social Work Day - A speech given by Ana Rădulescu, European Vice President of IFSW to the United Nations Geneva on World Social Work Day Ana Radulescu Dear Mr Møller, Director General, United Nations Office at... https://t.co/zvH0milqmS

Reply on TwitterRetweet on Twitter22Like on Twitter33Twitter
IFSWIFSW@IFSW·
19 Mar

Social workers for transformational and sustainable social protection in Europe - International Federation of Social Workers European Region Email: europe.ifsw@ifsw.org Social workers for transformational and sustainable social protection in Europe Ma... https://t.co/xAnCjjnngT

Reply on TwitterRetweet on Twitter11Like on Twitter24Twitter
Load More...

Copyright © 2019 International Federation of Social Workers · Registered Address: Maiengässli 4, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland · Registered charity number: CHE-109.240.290

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
/* ----------------------------------------- */ /* View slug: information-hub - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ .wpv-filter-form { padding-bottom: 50px; } /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* View slug: information-hub - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */
MENU
  • Home
  • About IFSW
    • What we do
    • Constitution/ Governance
    • Our members
    • IFSW Secretary-General, Dr Rory Truell
    • Partners
    • General Meetings
    • Executive Meetings
    • Executive committee area
      • Meeting papers 2018
    • Archives
    • Member login
  • Join
  • What is Social Work?
    • Global Definition of Social Work
    • Meet Social Workers from around the world
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Find your region
    • IFSW Africa
    • IFSW Asia and Pacific
    • IFSW Europe
    • IFSW Latin America and Caribbean
    • IFSW North America
  • IFSW Commissions
    • Ethics Commission
    • Human Rights Commission
    • Interim Education Commission
  • Information Hub
  • Social Work Action
    • The Global Agenda
    • The Global Observatory
    • World Social Work Day
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Contact