Codes of practice and registration of the social care workforce will help tackle the abuse of older people by care workers, Lynne Berry, Chief Executive of the General Social Care Council (GSCC), will tell Parliament’s Health Select Committee tomorrow (Thursday 22 January 2004).
As the regulator of the social care workforce in England, the GSCC is responsible for a range of work to raise standards of care and reduce abuse of service users by care workers.
GSCC Chief Executive Lynne Berry said:
“The well-being of all service users, whether old or young, must be the first priority for social care workers. The vast majority of the 1.2 million people in the workforce strive every day to protect the rights and promote the interests of users. But abuse of vulnerable people by workers commissioned to care for them, whether deliberate or through poor practice, is unacceptable. Whilst no system can prevent all abuse, our codes of practice, registration of the workforce and regulation of social work education and training will help achieve higher standards of care and improved public protection.”
The GSCC’s codes of practice have to be followed by all social care workers and their employers. Abuse of service users is explicitly covered in the fifth point of the worker’s code, which requires workers to “uphold public trust and confidence in social care services”, prohibiting neglect, harm, exploitation or discrimination.
Service users, carers and other members of the public should feel able to raise concerns if they suspect abuse by a care worker. The codes require all workers to report suspected abuse or unsafe care, and help users make complaints. There are also obligations on employers to properly check and supervise staff, to deal with concerns about workers and report them to other bodies where appropriate.
Registration will help prevent people who are clearly not suitable to care for others staying in the workforce. Social workers are already registering with the GSCC, and this will give service users the confidence that their worker is properly qualified and has undergone rigorous checks before taking on responsibility for their care.
Registration carries obligations on social workers to maintain high standards of practice and to be accountable for their conduct. It enables the GSCC to take firm action against those who abuse or harm service users through poor practice. Registration creates a system where abusers found guilty of misconduct can be removed from the workforce. A Government consultation on introducing protection of title (which is a legal restriction that will make registration compulsory for social workers) in April 2005 closes this week (23 January).
21 January 2004
Notes to editors
The Health Select Committee is investigating elder abuse by both paid health and social care workers and other carers. The GSCC will give evidence alongside the National Care Standards Commission and the Commission for Health Improvement. The Committee will also take evidence from the Community Care Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman MP.
GSCCsubmissiontotheHSCinquiryintoelderabuse.doc