The report, into the quality of social work education and training, is the first to be published by the social care workforce and training watchdog since it came into being last year.

The report sets out the results of monitoring by the GSCC’s inspectors and external assessors of 178 training providers who offer the diploma in social work (DipSW) or six other courses aimed at the further professional development of social workers known as post-qualifying awards.

Social work training is delivered by partnerships between education and employers, and the partnerships are praised in the report for continuing to deliver good academic training and work experience, despite difficulties in finding work placements due to staff shortages in some places. However, work placements were the part of the programme most valued by students.

The report comes at a time of considerable change in social work education and training. From 2003, professional qualifying training will be a three-year GSCC-approved degree-level qualification, rather than a two-year diploma. Post-qualifying training will be reviewed during 2003, to make sure that it continues to meet the needs of service users into the future. In 2003, the GSCC will begin the task of registering 1million social care workers in England – a task which will take several years to complete.

Chair of the GSCC, Rodney Brooke, congratulated students and providers alike for their success. “Although this report comes at a time of considerable change for social care, this does not take anything away from those who have achieved one of the current professional social work qualifications. I know they will have undergone considerable personal and sometimes financial sacrifice, hard work, and rigorous academic scrutiny on the way. I congratulate them all.”

Copies of the General Social Care Council’s Annual Quality-Assurance Report on social work education and training can be accessed on the Education and Training page of the website or by calling 020 7397 5800.