England’s regulatory council for the social care workforce, the General Social Care Council, has announced the initial findings of consultation on registration fees for social care workers joining the Social Care Register from 2003, and set a registration fee of £30 a year for qualified social workers.
The £30 annual fee for social workers is in line with decisions made by the Scottish Social Services Council and the Care Council for Wales. The Northern Ireland Social Care Council is due to consider the issue in December.
Social workers will be the first group to be registered. The level for other social care workers has not yet been set, but the Council has agreed that the fee will differ for differing responsibilities, reflecting the clear views of people surveyed.
Chair of the General Social Care Council, Rodney Brooke, said the consultation had thrown up some interesting results, including broad support for registration and acceptance that there would be a fee.
“People consulted supported the work of the General Social Care Council. They felt that registration with the GSCC would increase the status of social care and improve professional esteem,” he said.
The survey asked social care workers the kinds of benefits they would like to see accompanying registration such as annual and regional conferences, a regular newsletter, information on training and courses, information on policy developments, technical support to establish e-mail, news groups and learning networks and results from surveys with members of the public.
Other suggestions the Council is considering include a registration pack with certificate, an identification card, access to a helpline for advice and support and access to a members-only part of the GSCC website.
Mr Brooke added: “We’re still looking at the exact package of benefits registered workers will receive. But perhaps the single most important benefit is the potential for increased status and standing for the profession. The GSCC will be champion as well as guardian of a committed workforce. We have already produced the first ever codes of practice for social care, to acclaim; and we will be a national voice for the sector calling for it to receive the public recognition it deserves.
“Increased status for the profession could bring huge benefits in terms of improved recruitment, retention and morale and contribute to the overall raising of standards. All this adds up to better services for the million-plus people who use social care services.”