Social Worker
- Regulators
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- Social Care Wales
- Nations
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- Wales
- Sectors
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- Health and care
Regulatory or professional bodies
Primary regulator
- Regulatory authority
- Social Care Wales
- Address
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Registration Team, Southgate House
Wood Street
Cardiff
CF10 1EW - Email address
- info@socialcare.wales
- Website
- http://socialcare.wales
- Phone number
- +44 (0)3003 033 444
Regulation
Regulation summary
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. Protected titles: Social worker
Provide a range of services and support to improve personal well-being outcomes for individuals, including both children and adults. This can take place in a number of settings but is normally under local authority direction. These services will include specialist or multi-agency settings and functions such as Emergency Duty Teams (EDT), Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), Team Around the Family and integrated health settings.
Regulation type
Reserved activities
The title of 'social worker' is protected in law across the UK. Anyone using this title and who wants to work in: England, must be registered with the Social Work England (SWE); Northern Ireland, must be registered with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC); Scotland, must be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC); Wales, must be registered with Social Care Wales. For Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland only: 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. Scotland only: only a registered social worker may carry out the role of Chief Social Work Officer.
Protected titles
Protected titles: Social worker
- More about regulated activities and titles
- https://socialcare.wales/qualifications-funding/qualification-framework/job-roles/social-work-services/social-worker-in-years-3-and-beyond
Qualifications and experience
New professionals
- Routes to qualification
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A full list of qualifications and routes to register can be found on our website.
- More about qualification
- https://socialcare.wales/qualification-framework
Professionals from other UK nations
- Routes to recognition within the UK
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For further information on the routes to recognition for professionals outside the UK please contact InternationallyQualified@socialcare.wales.
Please apply to Social Care Wales and if your qualification has been assessed as equivalent elsewhere in the UK this will be considered as part of our process.
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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Please see the below for information on how to register, and any post-recognition requirements.
Social Care Wales are currently reviewing any existing free trade and recognition agreements. In the meantime if you hold a qualification that you think is equivalent and allows you to practise in Wales please share it with us.
- More about recognition for professionals outside the UK
- https://socialcare.wales/registration/how-to-apply
Registration
- Registration requirements
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Please see the below for information on how to register, and any post-recognition requirements.
Newly qualified social workers will need to complete the Consolidation Programme post-registration. Further information will be provided during the process.
- More about registration
- http://socialcare.wales/registration/how-to-apply
Legislation
- Title of relevant act or charter
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Care Standards Act 2000.
- Website link to legislation
- https://www.hcpc-uk.org/aboutus/legislation/