Introduction to our new CE Penny Thompson
June 2010
I'm delighted to have my first opportunity to introduce myself to you since I became Chief Executive of the GSCC on 31 March. As a social worker by background, I still feel very much part of the profession and am very keen to actively engage with you as much as possible to help inform our work.

Registration renewal
June 2010
Because many social workers first joined the register when registration became compulsory in 2005, over 45,000 of you are due to renew your registration during January to May 2011.

Consulting on changes to GSCC’s regulatory functions
June 2010
The GSCC will be consulting on significant changes to some aspects of the way it regulates the profession in the coming months. The changes are designed to improve our effectiveness in protecting the public and will affect the way you interact with us though our registration and conduct processes.

ISA registration - how it will affect you
June 2010
The Vetting and Barring Scheme is now being implemented by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). This scheme aims to prevent unsuitable people from undertaking certain paid or voluntary activities with children or vulnerable adults. The ISA will vet all those who wish to work with vulnerable groups and bar those who pose a risk of harm. The ISA registration process begins this summer.

Inspection reports
June 2010
Later this month, we will start to publish the outcomes of the work we do to regulate social work degree courses. The following information will be available at www.gscc.org.uk

Calling all graduates – get registered!
June 2010
Congratulations if you have, or are about to, successfully complete your social work degree this summer. You will be eligible to apply to join the Social Care Register as a qualified social worker and you will find details of how to do this on our website - www.gscc.org.uk.

Web focus groups - participants wanted!
June 2010
We are currently redesigning our website in order to provide social workers, students and other key audiences with more opportunities to engage with us. This will be achieved through introducing new ways of communicating via the website. So we need to know what new functionality and content you want us to include, from forums and blogs through to video content.

Conduct hearings
June 2010
The following conduct hearings have concluded since the last edition of Social Work Connections up until 27th May 2010. For full details on our hearings and sanctions, please visit www.gscc.org.uk/Conduct/Conduct_hearings/

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.