The criteria and process for accrediting universities in England to offer the new degree in social work have been agreed by the General Social Care Council.

Council members approved the processes and policies which the
GSCC will operate at their meeting on 22 April, clearing the way for universities to begin applying for accreditation from June 2002.

The new degree, announced by the Department of Health in 2001, will replace the current professional social work qualification, the Diploma in Social Work, from Autumn 2003. Different arrangements apply in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The General Social Care Council is one of a wide range of stakeholders working with the Department of Health on the introduction of the new degree, which is aimed at building on the best of social work education and training and improving the status, image and position of social workers. The intention is to better equip social workers to provide high quality services to the public and ensure a sound basis for the registration of social workers by the General Social Care Council over the next few years.

Part of the General Social Care Council’s role in the new degree will be to accredit universities. This will involve checking that they meet the requirements set out in the accreditation document. The document is now being reviewed by the Plain English Campaign. It will be published in May 2002 and be available on this website.

Universities have been invited to submit applications for accreditation between 1 June and 31 October 2002. Dates for submission will be negotiated and agreed with each university. The General Social Care Council will come to a decision within four weeks of receipt of the submission. Further submissions will be invited and considered during 2003.

A list of universities accredited by the General Social Care Council will be published annually and the first list will be available in late 2002.