Booking has opened for the General Social Care Council’s (GSCC) fourth annual conference on ‘Social care: building professionalism, delivering quality’. The conference will take place on 19 January 2006 in the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster.

Due to huge demand for delegate places last year, this year’s conference has been expanded to accommodate more than 500 delegates. However, places are still expected to run out quickly, so early booking is advised. The conference is free to attend but places are limited to two per organisation.

This full day event will focus on the drive to build professionalism and accountability within the social care workforce through registration, conduct, training and the codes of practice. Workshop topics will include the new post-qualifying framework for social workers, registration of new groups of social care workers and the new conduct proceedings for Registered Social Workers (RSWs).

Liam Byrne MP, Minister for Care Services, is confirmed as keynote speaker for the day and the panel discussion will feature a selection of high profile speakers including:

Maria Eagle MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families
Julies Jones, President, Association of Directors of Social Services
Peter Beresford, Chair, Shaping Our Lives
Kathryn Hudson, National Director of Social Care, Department of Health
Lynne Berry, Chief Executive, GSCC
Rodney Brooke, Chair, GSCC

Delegate invitations and the agenda can be downloaded from the events section of the GSCC website at: www.gscc.org.uk.