Social Worker
- Regulators
-
- Scottish Social Services Council
- Nations
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- Scotland
- Sectors
-
- Health and care
Regulatory or professional bodies
Primary regulator
- Regulatory authority
- Scottish Social Services Council
- Address
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Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive
Dundeee
DD1 4NY - Email address
- registration@sssc.uk.com
- Website
- http://www.sssc.uk.com
- Phone number
- +44 (0)3456 030 891
Regulation
Regulation summary
The SSSC Register was set up under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 to regulate for the social work, social care and early years workforce.
Social workers are trained to: make assessments, taking account of a range of factors, including identifying and balancing need, risk, and rights; investigate situations where there is concern over the potential or actual harm of abuse of children or vulnerable adults; intervene to assist and to protect either individuals or communities.
Regulation type
Reserved activities
The title of 'social worker' is protected in law across the UK.
You must be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to use this title.
Only registered social workers with additional appropriate qualifications may carry out the duties of a Mental Health Officer / Approved Mental Health Professional as set out in legislation.
Only a registered social worker may carry out the role of Chief Social Work Officer.
Protected titles
The title of 'social worker' is protected in law across the UK.
You must be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to use this title.
Qualifications and experience
New professionals
- Routes to qualification
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You must hold:
* Degree in Social Work
* Diploma in Social Work (DipSw)
* or another equivalent professional qualification - More about qualification
- https://www.sssc.uk.com/registration/help-with-register-parts-fees-and-qualifications/
Professionals from other UK nations
- Routes to recognition within the UK
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There is a Memorandum of Understanding between the four countries of the UK to allow movement of social workers between countries.
This enables social workers to register in the different parts of the UK.
This applies to social work degree holders from all generic social work programmes.
The Memorandum of Understanding does not apply to Frontline, Step Up or any other specialist programmes.
- More about recognition within the UK
- https://www.sssc.uk.com/registration/help-with-register-parts-fees-and-qualifications/
Professionals from outside the UK
- Recognition for professionals outside the UK
- All - there are routes to recognition for professionals from all countries
- Summary of routes
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To practise as a social worker in Scotland, you must be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). To register, one of the criteria you must meet is our qualification criteria. You cannot apply to register as a social worker in Scotland until you have achieved an accepted social work qualification.
You can apply to register with an international social work qualification. If you do, we must fully assess your qualification against our criteria and standards. You must pay an application fee and provide detailed information in English about your qualification.
Your international social work qualification cannot be assessed until you are able to register, which means residing in Scotland.
- More about recognition for professionals outside the UK
- https://www.sssc.uk.com/knowledgebase/article/KA-02463/en-us
Registration
- Registration requirements
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Workers must register with the Scottish Social Services Council.
You must pay the relevant fee to apply for and maintain your registration.
You must complete Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) to maintain your registration.
- More about registration
- https://www.sssc.uk.com/registration/your-responsibilities-as-a-registered-worker/
Legislation
- Title of relevant act or charter
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Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001.
- Website link to legislation
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2001