Suitability criteria for practising as a social worker
The General Social Care Council has produced guidance aimed at clarifying the roles and responsibilities of universities, employers and the social care regulator regarding a student’s suitability for the profession.
All students on approved social work courses must now be registered with the GSCC, which now taken over responsibility from higher education institutions (HEIs) for the suitability of students, including those on PQ courses, to enter and remain on social work programmes.
Suitability for social work: ensuring the suitability of social work students to access and continue their training includes an entire section on suitability procedures in the new PQ framework.
In particular, the new guidance updates procedures relating to a post-qualifying student’s suitability to continue in the profession; including how and when information is shared between HEIs, the student’s employer and the GSCC.
HEIs offering approved post-qualifying (PQ) awards in social work are required to establish and maintain processes to deal with students who are unsuitable to continue PQ training and remain on the Social Care Register.
In addition, a new duty has been placed upon employers to inform a HEI if a PQ student becomes the subject of a serious disciplinary investigation or suspension for reasons of unsuitability in the course of their work.
Other clauses in the guidance relate to procedures regarding self-employed independent social workers on PQ courses and concerns raised by HEIs about a student’s suitability to continue in the profession.
The new guidance primarily aims to:
• clarify and improve the interface between HEI and GSCC processes and decision-making when there are concerns about a student’s suitability;
• increase opportunities for sharing information;
• build upon case experience and examples to assist decision making;
• and ensure that decision-making processes are fair and transparent, and that their legal basis is made explicit to applicants and students.
Other areas covered in the 57-page document range from application, selection and student registration processes; the roles and responsibilities of applicants, HEIs and the GSCC; to student withdrawal from programmes.
“Suitability for social work” is available from: http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/CC3D2AC4-79FB-4A6B-B36F-47A7456C444F/0/SuitabilitydocumentPDF.pdf
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