New research shows huge public support for regulation of the social care workforce. An overwhelming majority of 93 per cent said they were in favour of regulation. 90 per cent of the public surveyed also have confidence that regulation will deliver higher standards and improved public protection. This new research, by NOP for the General Social Care Council, comes just two weeks before the Social Care Register is opened across the UK.
In April 2003, the General Social Care Council and equivalent social care regulators in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will launch the Social Care Register, a major step forward in the regulation of the workforce. This has the potential to grow larger than any other workforce register in British history.
Health Minister Jacqui Smith said: “This survey demonstrates that we need to continue to improve the public's confidence in social workers and the Social Care Register will be a key part of that work. Regulation is an important step in increasing protection for some of our most vulnerable people and ensuring that a high standard of care is delivered across the country.”
Chair of the General Social Care Council, Rodney Brooke, said: “This research reflects public support for regulation. The launch of the register is indeed good news for the public, who will benefit from higher standards of care and public protection. But it is also good news for the social care workforce. This survey shows there is progress to be made in public understanding of the vital work they do. Effective regulation with service users at its heart is a first vital step forward in transforming the profession and the public’s perception of it.”
Only 40 per cent of those surveyed believe that social workers play a very important role in society. This compares with police, teachers, doctors and nurses – professions which are all regulated – which were all rated above 80 per cent. Doctors rated the highest at 96 per cent. Care assistants were rated slightly higher than social workers, at 56 per cent.
This result could explain the huge support for registration amongst the social care workforce themselves. Earlier research commissioned for the General Social Care Council among social care workers demonstrated a similar high level of support for registration, at 87 per cent.
The research also reflected low awareness of the size of the social care workforce. About five per cent of the total workforce is employed in the social care sector – more than a million people – and yet as few as 11 per cent recognised the scale of the workforce in England. Just under half (47 per cent) thought it was less than half that amount.
The research will be used by the General Social Care Council to help benchmark public attitudes before the registration process begins. A key aim of the Council is to promote awareness of and respect for the social care workforce.
Along with the General Social Care Council’s codes of practice, over half a million of which have been requested in the six months since publication, and the new social work degree, the register marks the most significant transformation to the social care workforce in its history.
Commenting on the wider picture, Chair of the General Social Care Council, Rodney Brooke, said: “Registration is one part of the essential change which is sweeping through the social care sector. 2003 marks a year of real transformation for social care: a new degree for social workers, ongoing demand for the codes of practice launched last year, and the start of registration of the biggest workforce in the UK. The changes cover public, private and voluntary sectors of social care work - a big step forward in making sure those we care for are protected by high quality, and consistent regulation.”
17 March 2003
Notes:
Research was carried out by NOP on behalf of the General Social Care Council between 27 February-4 March 2003, interviewing 1,018 people of 15+ years. Earlier research into the views of the social care workforce was carried out by MORI on behalf of the GSCC, between 17-20 September 2002, supplemented by qualitative research by Forum Qualitative. Full details can be found in the attachment.
Surveyresults.pdf