Social workers
About social worker applications - your questions answered.
If you are a UK-qualified social worker, you can find out all about applying to join the Social Care Register, and your eligibility to do so, on this page.
Should I register with the General Social Care Council?
If you are a UK-qualified social worker and work in England then you should apply to join the Social Care Register if you have not already done so.
I’m a social worker, do I have to register?
Yes. Registration benefits social workers as well as service users and the sector in general. However, it is not optional. To deter 'bogus' social workers, a new criminal offence was introduced on 1 April 2005. It is now illegal for someone to call themselves a social worker, with intent to deceive, unless they are registered with the GSCC, and the police can investigate such cases. This affects people with 'social worker' in their job title, but also people in roles which require a social work qualification or involves work normally only undertaken by social workers. Prosecutions can result in the person gaining a criminal record and a fine of up to £5,000.
Is there any guidance on filling in the form?
Yes, the application pack has a comprehensive guidance booklet to help you complete the application form, and there's help at the end of a telephone on the registration helpline (0845 070 0630). You can also email your queries to us at registration@gscc.org.uk.
Can I apply for a new job before I'm registered?
Since 1 April 2005, no one has been able to apply for a social work post until they are registered. If you are not registered, it is an offence to call yourself a 'social worker' or work as such with intent to deceive.
How long will it take to apply?
It takes on average about 50 minutes to complete the application form. Once your identity has been verified and your application endorsed, and if there are no other issues, you could be registered within six weeks of your form being received by the GSCC.
What are the registration criteria?
Registration covers four main areas: verification of identity, qualifications, good character and health.
What are the necessary qualifications?
You will need to hold one of the recognised social work qualifications to join the social work part of the register. In summary, these are:
| A degree in social work approved by one of the social care regulatory councils of the UK |
| Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) |
| Certificate in Social Service (CSS) |
| Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) |
| Letter of Comparability to the CQSW issued by CCETSW to social workers trained outside the United Kingdom |
| Courses recognised by the Association of Psychiatric Social Workers (AAPSW) which lead to membership of the association |
| Courses recognised by the Institute of Medical Social Workers which lead to eligibility for registration of an associate of the institute (AIMA or AMIA) |
Probation Certificate issued by the Recruitment and Training Committee of the Advisory Council for Probation and After Care until 1971
Certificate or other evidence of completion of a course recognised until 1971 by the Recruitment and Training Committee of the Advisory Council for Probation and After Care |
| Certificate in Social Work issued by the Council for Training in Social Work |
| Certificate in Child Care or Home Office Letter of Recognition in Child Care |
| A social work qualification approved by any of the social care regulatory councils of the UK. |
How do you assess my character?
The law says we have to make sure that everyone who is registered is of good character.
To confirm good character, we firstly look at the chronology of your employment, study and sabbatical records. We also ask you to disclose details about any relevant criminal offences and disciplinary records. Details are confirmed by employers, who are asked to endorse each application based on their knowledge of the person and any criminal records checks they have done. As a further check, we also ask a manager who knows the applicant to verify the identity of the applicant to make sure they are who they say they are.
How do you assess my health?
The law says that we have to make sure that everyone who is registered is 'physically and mentally fit' to work in social care.
We hope you understand that we need to satisfy ourselves about your health, so you will be asked to declare any health conditions that could affect your ability to do your job safely. Telling us about a health condition is unlikely to prevent you from being registered, but could lead to conditions being placed on your registration so that you can work safely. The health requirement is not a bar to registering for people with disabilities.
How much does registration cost?
Registration for social workers is £30 per year, which works out at 8p a day. This is the same throughout the UK.
How long does registration last?
Registration lasts for three years. We will tell you the dates of your registration period when we write to confirm you have been registered. We will send you a reminder at least 28 days before your renewal is due.
What information do you collect on the registration form?
The main details collected and held about social workers are:
name and address; date of birth; gender; previous names; National Insurance number; social work qualification; current job; previous jobs; disciplinary record; criminal offences; and health.
Will the register be public?
The law says that parts of the register must be public, but only certain details will be public: your full name; your registration number; and the postal town of your work address.
Access the register.
Do I need to send you any original documents?
No, you do not have to send any original documents with your application form - instead, we will ask you to show these to your employer who will verify that they have seen them by signing and dating a photocopy. Details of the original documents that you need to show your employer are outlined in the application form guidance.
Why do you require independent verification and endorsement of my application?
We ask you to get independent verification and endorsement of your application so that we can be sure of your identity and can get independent confirmation that there is no reason why you should not be included on the Social Care Register. Further guidance on who should verify and endorse your application and the ways that this will be done are included in the application pack guidance.
Who decides whether I can be registered?
Most applications for registration are expected to be straightforward, but some may raise specific questions that need to be considered by the GSCC’s Registration Committee. These will be applications where someone has declared a health condition or a criminal conviction.
Committee members will be lay people as well as those with experience in the social care sector. The panel will balance fairness to applicants with protection of the public in all decisions taken
How do I tell you if any information I have given in my application changes?
It is important that you let us know straight away about any changes to any of the information you have given us. It is important because it will help us make sure that we keep the register up-to-date and protect the users of social care services.
We need to know about changes to:
your name (supporting evidence will be required); your employer; your contact details; registration with another regulatory organisation; your physical or mental health; and your criminal or disciplinary record (supporting evidence will be required).
Please forward any change to your information by emailing us at changeofcircumstances@gscc.org.uk or by post at the address below. If you are advising us of a change, for security purposes, please provide your name, address (including postcode) and your date of birth in your email.
General Social Care Council
Myson House
Railway Terrace
Rugby
CV21 3HT
How do I renew my registration?
Your registration will run for three years. When you renew your registration, we may ask you to provide evidence that you have taken part in relevant activities to continue training and learning during the last three years.
We will send you a renewal pack at least 28 days before your registration period is due to end. The pack will contain all the information you need to help you to renew your registration.
What do I do if I'm not happy with the way you've handled my application?
We try to give the best possible service in all areas of our work, but we accept that from time to time, something may go wrong. When this happens, we'd like to know so we can try to put things right.
Our aim is to resolve complaints quickly and at an early stage. First of all, please raise your complaint with the member of GSCC staff you have been dealing with. Let them know what the problem is, how it happened, and what you'd like us to do to sort it out. You can get in touch with them by telephone, letter or email. They will do their best to try and find a solution as quickly as possible. If you're not satisfied with the response you get, they can advise you on what to do next.
If you disagree with a decision not to register you, you can appeal to the Care Standards Tribunal.