FAQs – Social Workers find an answer to

• What is the GSCC?
• Do I have to apply for GSCC registration?
• What type of employment can I expect in the UK?
• What are the principle accountabilities a local authority is looking for?
• Can I see a sample Person Specification of a local authority employer?
• What are the aims and objectives of a private Children's Home?

What is the GSCC?        top

The General Social Care Council was established in October 2001 under the Care Standards Act 2000, as the guardian of standards for the social care workforce in England. The aim of the GSSC is to increase the protection for service users, their carers and the general public by regulating the social care workforce and by ensuring that work standards within the social care sector are of the highest quality. As well as promoting high standards within the social care sector, the council's job is also to champion social care and to help give it the recognition it deserves.

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Do I need to apply for GSCC registration?        top

If you wish to work as a qualified Social Worker in the UK, it will be essential that you are registered with a Social Care Council before you start work or you have at least received an Acknowledgement Letter from the Care Council. Please note that some private employers also prefer you to be registered, but this will be made clear to you by Jacaranda if this is the case.

There are Social Care councils in Wales, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland – they each have different names and you must be registered with the respective council if you intend to work in any one of the four countries, e.g. if you want to work in Wales, you must be registered with the Social Care Council for Wales.

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) is the Council for England. The head office is in London and this is where the International Recognition Service (IRS) is based. The IRS is the department that assesses applications from social workers who studied outside the UK on behalf of ALL of the councils.

The Social Care Council registration is relevant to you in 2 ways:

1. It will give an equivalency to the social work qualification you have gained outside the UK allowing employers in the UK to see that your qualification is equivalent to the diploma in Social Work (DipSW) (Part II of the application pack)
2. It will register you as it registers all practicing social workers in the UK (Part I of the application pack). YOU MUST COMPLETE BOTH PARTS

The Social Care Councils ensure the social care workforce is well trained and educated by approving courses and social care and social work qualifications and that all social care staff adhere to a code of practice. The Councils deal with matters of misconduct and is responsible for the registration of social care staff.

The work of the Social Care Council is a great step forward for social work and social care in the UK. It provides the mechanism for raising standards and protecting service users. In registering you will show your commitment to high standards and accountability.

International registration:

There is a special application pack available for international staff. You can order this by email, on the website or by telephone.

Email: registration@gscc.org.uk
Telephone: +44 1788 572 119
Web: www.gscc.org.uk

Be sure to get the international registration application pack.

You can apply for registration if you are fully qualified. You may also apply for registration if you expect to qualify soon, i.e. it is not necessary to have your qualification certificate. In this case you need a letter from your university/college stating that you are eligible to qualify as a social worker, stating when you will qualify.

Part I of the application:

You will need to complete a detailed application form in which you supply details of your employment history, health and good character. Full details are in the application pack.

There are two points you must be very clear on at this stage:

1. A responsible person needs to endorse your application. This means that they support your registration and declare that there is no reason you should not be registered. A signature is required from a professional who knows you from a social work setting. They should be as high level within the organisation as possible. This part seems to be very important, particularly showing the seniority and position of the person within the organisation (where this is not already clear e.g. senior professor), so it can be helpful to enclose an organisational chart.
2. A responsible person (this can be the same person who endorses your application) verifies your identity. This means that they need to see your birth certificate or passport and declare that this form of identity relates to you.

Part II of the application:

You must show how you meet the six core competencies of the social work diploma (DipSW) as it is taught in the UK. You must write a personal statement. If your qualifications do not meet the requirements, you can show relevant social work education, training and professional experience. You must provide evidence to support your claim.

The six competencies of the DipSW are:

1. The ability to communicate and engage with organisations and people.
2. The ability to promote and enable people to meet responsibilities, secure rights and achieve change.
3. The ability to assess and plan working in partnership to review people’s circumstances.
4. The ability to intervene and provide services to achieve change.
5. The ability to contribute to the work of the organisation.
6. The ability to develop professional competence.

Part II sometimes causes confusion. Here are some HINTS & TIPS to help you with it:

• You don’t need to write a separate statement for each “practice requirement”. You should write about a page for each of the six core competences.
• The assessors want to see that your qualification is equivalent to the Diploma in Social Work, as taught in the UK. This means that a detailed and accurate academic transcript is very important. You can write this yourself, evidencing as required and also include a weblink to your university so that the assessors can visit the website themselves. You could also include a more visual chart of your university course.
• The personal statements must be completed by all applicants, but they are particularly useful in showing you meet the requirements, if you have, for example, a Psychology degree and 15 years’ experience in Social Work. i.e. you do not necessarily need a Social Work qualification in order to register.
• The assessors will look particularly for critical reflection, knowledge of the laws in your country and your ability to transfer your understanding of the legal framework in your country to the UK.
• Your personal statements should be analytical, rather than descriptive stories

There are three possible outcomes:

1. You meet the requirements and can register.
2. There is a training shortfall which must be made up before you can register. The GSCC must approve the additional training required.
3. You are not able to register and you must complete a recognised qualification in social work before you can register.

There is an application fee of £155 (price in 2006, check with GSCC directly) which is payable directly to the Social Care Council.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW:

• Order your international application pack today at:
  • English Council (General Social Care Council) - www.gscc.org.uk
  • Northern Ireland Social Care Council - www.niscc.info
  • Social Care Council for Wales - www.ccwales.org.uk
  • Scottish Social Services Council - www.sssc.uk.com

If you are not sure where you will be working, apply to the GSCC.

• Read the instructions in the website and in the pack thoroughly
• If you have questions, address them to the Social Care Council
• Let us know how your application is progressing – it’s a legal requirement to work in the UK and as such very important.
  

What type of employment can I expect in the UK?        top

Placement opportunities are available in local authorities (also known as local government) as well as in private institutions. Geographical choices range from the metropolis of London to other cities, medium-sized towns and more rural areas. We will do our very best to meet your requests.

Candidates with experience in the following areas are welcome to apply:

• Adoption - social services e.g. same as Jugendamt, ASD in Germany and private employers
• Alcohol/Substance Misuse
• Children and Families – social services e.g. same as Jugendamt, ASD in Germany and private employers
• Children with Disabilities - social services e.g. same as Jugendamt, ASD in Germany and private employers
• Fostering - social services e.g. same as Jugendamt, ASD in Germany and private employers
• HIV/AIDS
• Leaving Care - social services e.g. same as Jugendamt, ASD in Germany and private employers
• Learning Disabilities – social services and private employers
• Mental Health - social services and private employers
• Older People - social services and private employers
• Pedagogy in arts, sports, theatre etc
• Physical Disabilities - social services and private employers
• Residential Social Work – such as orphanages
• Social Pedagogy
• Young people with challenging behaviour – usually private employers

See our jobs of the month section for a sample of the kind of jobs we have at the moment. Ask your contact at Jacaranda to keep you informed of new jobs coming up!

What are the principle accountabilities a local authority is looking for?        top

1. be responsible for a caseload of individual service users:
   • assess needs
   • enable service users to benefit from available statutory and community resources
   • organise networks of care around vulnerable and 'at risk' service users in the community
   • fulfil statutory responsibilities
   • provide therapeutic relationship to enable service users to achieve independence, maximise potential, and resolve difficulties within their physical, emotional and societal environment
     
2. Share in the life of the team in accordance with needs mutually agreed by the team
   • develop special skills and interests
   • work jointly with other team members where appropriate
   • take part in work with groups of service users
   • develop liaison with local agencies, (educational, health, voluntary groups etc)
   • take part in the emergency duty rota
   • attend team meetings
     
3. Contribute to departmental responsibilities, developments and initiatives. These may include:
   • membership of special interest groups/project development etc.
   • training

Can I see a sample Person Specification of a local authority employer?
        top

What are the objectives of a private children’s home?        top

1. To ensure that the needs of the child are of paramount consideration and that any work with children is based on informed best practice.
   • Children are treated with dignity, respect and consideration.
   • As a minimum, children enjoy the protection and standards set out in current child care legislation, guidance and standards.
   • To exceed the targets set out in the “Quality Protects” initiative; i.e.
     • Excellent health care
     • Maximum educational opportunities
     • Opportunities to express their views on every aspect of their care and
     • Child protection
   • Review the work seeking feedback from the child, parents, care staff & other professionals ensuring that all benefit from “best practice”.
     
2. To ensure that staff can do their job, that they are professional in their work and that they maintain a sense of humour.
   
3. To ensure that the business remains viable by offering “best value” to customers, following sound financial practices, all legal requirements and ensuring that equal opportunities are followed across the board