This edition of Social Work Connections reports on GSCC news and developments during another period of significant activity in the social work profession.
This includes the government’s establishment of a Social Work Reform Board to advise on and lead the implementation of the task force’s recommendations. The GSCC sits on this board, playing a key role in advising on how best to take forward the reforms related to regulation of the profession, and we report on progress so far. We are delighted to introduce our new Executive Management Team who will be joining the GSCC soon and will lead us through this exciting period of renewal and reform.
Social Work Connections readership survey results
March 2010
We recently carried out a survey about Social Work Connections with you, our readers. We asked what you found interesting about the newsletter and what you would like us to focus on in the future.
Next steps for PRTL
March 2010
Every social worker registered with the GSCC needs to keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date. That is why you have to establish - at the three-yearly renewal point - that you have done 90 hours of post registration training and learning (PRTL). That is a minimum requirement - indeed, most social workers report learning hours well in excess of 90 on their renewal form.
Involving people who use social work services
March 2010
Engagement with people who have experience of using social work services has been part of GSCC strategy since its creation in 2001. In 2005 we published Seen and Heard which emphasised the right of people who use services and carers to "influence, advise, direct and validate the GSCC's policies and services".
Public protection and conduct
March 2010
Assessing risk and taking steps to minimise it is something that social workers do every day. It can be a complex and difficult task. Social workers need to weigh up a wide range of factors before deciding on a course of action that is both proportionate and ensures the safety of service users and those around them.
NQSWs and career structures - what you told us
March 2010
Your responses to the poll in our December newsletter showed that a majority of you felt that the newly qualified social workers (NQSW) you had worked with lacked key skills when entering the workplace.
A social work student reflects on her placements
March 2010
In this issue of Social Work Connections we asked a recent graduate to reflect on the placements that she undertook as part of her social work degree.
Meet our new Chief Executive and Executive Management Team
March 2010
We are pleased to announce that we have appointed a new Chief Executive, Penny Thompson, who will join us by 1 April. A trained social worker, Penny has over 20 years' experience in social care and local government, including as Chief Executive of the London Borough of Hackney, and Social Services Director of Sheffield City Council. She is currently co-director of independent public sector consultancy PeysnerThompson Ltd.
The GSCC parliamentary reception 2010
March 2010
An audience of over 150 Members of Parliament, Lords, and other key stakeholders from across the social care sector came together to hear about the work of the GSCC at a parliamentary reception in the House of Lords earlier this month. The high attendance at the event showed that the sector understands the vital importance of regulation in protecting the public and raising standards in the profession.
Social Work Reform Board
March 2010
The Social Work Task Force, which reported in December 2009, made a series of recommendations about the future shape of the profession. The government aims to publish an implementation plan at the beginning of March and has established a reform board to advise on what should be in that plan – and to prepare the ground for change by bringing all the key bodies together to help in the delivery of the reforms.
Social Work Task Force report launched
December 2009
Moira Gibb, flanked by two secretaries of state and a rock star, launched the Social Work Task Force report Building a Safe, Confident Future at a meeting in London on 1 December.
Get the picture with Social Care TV
December 2009
Social Care TV is a new broadband service for everyone involved in the social care sector.
MyGSCC – the GSCC’s electronic registrant service
December 2009
Social workers and social work students need to maintain their registration with the GSCC in several ways; qualified social workers need to renew their registration every three years, complete post registration training and learning (PRTL), pay their
annual registration fee, and promptly advise the GSCC of any changes of circumstance. Social work students are also required to pay their annual fee, and advise GSCC of any changes in their circumstances.
