The Health and Social Care Bill update
December 2011
The Health and Social Care Bill, which contains the legislation to transfer the functions of the GSCC to the Health Professions Council (HPC), completed its progress through the House of Commons in September and received its Second Reading in the House of Lords at the start of October.

The GSCC's new approach to health assessments
December 2011
When someone applies for registration with the GSCC we have to make sure we are satisfied that they are physically and mentally fit to perform the duties of a social worker.

GSCC: "Registration of social work students should continue in the future"
December 2011
The Health Professions Council’s (HPC) launched a consultation on student fitness to practise and registration last month.

Social work reform update - ASYE and Professional Capability Framework (PCF)
December 2011
As we have reported in Social Work Connections before, the Social Work Reform Board (SWRB) has recommended the creation of an Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) as the final stage of becoming a social worker.

The Guardian Social Care Network
December 2011
The Guardian has recently launched ‘social care network’ a professional network, providing insight for social workers and social care workers.

Out and about - the GSCC speaking to registrants
December 2011
Workshops for social workers at their place of employment have continued and we recently spoke to social workers at Bolton, Hackney, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Redbridge, Reading and the West Midlands about the transfer of regulatory functions from the GSCC to the HPC.

Conduct hearing outcomes
December 2011
Please note that this information relates to hearings concluded from 24 August 2011 to 25 November 2011

A child-centred system: The Government’s response to the Munro review of child protection
September 2011
We have welcomed the Government’s response to the Munro Review of Child Protection, published in July. The Government has accepted all of Professor Eileen Munro’s recommendations, which include improved relationships between higher education institutions (HEIs) and employers, and offers further contributions to the Social Work Reform Board’s Capabilities Framework.

Coming soon – The College of Social Work
September 2011
One of the key recommendations of the Social Work Task Force was the establishment of a College of Social Work. The primary reason for the recommendation was the need to develop a single organisation which could speak up for social work; a voice with authority and owned by the profession. Since the publication of the Task Force report a lot has changed, for one thing we have a new Government, but the consensus about the need for a college is still strong.

Conduct hearing outcomes
September 2011
For the full list of hearings and sanctions, please visit http://www.gscc.org.uk/page/45/Conduct+hearings.html