With just one week to go before the 1 December cut-off date, social workers are getting their final reminder to send in any remaining application forms for registration now.

The date has been set for social workers in England by workforce regulator the General Social Care Council (GSCC) to help social workers get on the register before the new law comes into force on 1 April 2005. All social workers need to be registered by then and social work roles filled with Registered Social Workers (RSWs).

There has been a huge upsurge in social workers applying over the last few weeks. Around 30,000 forms have now come in to the GSCC and will be processed in the coming weeks.

Chief Executive Lynne Berry said:

“It’s great to see so many tens of thousands of social workers getting their forms in on time. We’d like to say a big thank-you to them and while it will take some weeks to get you all registered, we’re delighted to see your commitment to professional status and high standards.

“And if your form isn’t in yet – get it in as soon as possible. Social workers who delay could get caught out when the new law comes into force.”

With 30,000 forms to process, the GSCC has asked social workers to be patient as it will take a number of weeks to process their applications, although properly completed forms should be registered well before legal deadline.

Social workers applying later than 1 December are advised to get their forms in as soon as possible. Priority will be given to the forms in before the cut-off date, but the GSCC will work hard to help all social workers become registered in time.