Students
About student applications - Your questions answered
If you are a student social worker, you can find out all you need to know about joining the Social Care Register on this page. Just click on one of the questions to get an answer.
How do I apply?
If you are a student social worker and are studying a GSCC-approved new degree social work course in England, you can get an application pack from your HEI or by contacting GSCC Registration on 0845 070 0630.
What happens if I have not sent you my payment?
Please check that you have filled in all the sections of the form and that you have enclosed all the required documentation any payment. The GSCC cannot proceed with your application until all these items are present. Incomplete applications or those without correct payment will be returned to you. This will result in a delay in processing your registration.
What happens if I have not sent in required documentation with my application form?
Please check that you have filled in all the sections of the form and that you have enclosed all the required documentation any payment. The GSCC cannot proceed with your application until all these items are present. Incomplete applications or those without correct payment will be returned to you. This will result in a delay in processing your registration.
Do I need to register if I'm studying for the Diploma in Social Work?
You do not need to register as a student if you are studying for the Diploma in Social Work. You will be invited to register shortly, as a qualified social worker, when you have completed the diploma. Only students studying the new degree at undergraduate or postgraduate level in England will need to apply when we commence registration.
Which care council do I need to register with?
You must register with the social care council for the country where you are studying. If you are unsure about which social care council you need to register with, please call the registration helpline on 0845 070 0630.
How long does the form take to complete?
It takes on average about 30 minutes to complete the application form.
What are the registration criteria?
Registration criteria for student social workers cover three main areas: verification of identity, good character and health.
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 ask the applicant to disclose any relevant issues such as disciplinary history and criminal convictions. These details are confirmed by the student’s univesity.
Disclosures about character may be considered by our Registration Committee, which is made up of lay people and qualified social care workers. Telling us about a criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from being registered - each case will be considered individually.
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.
You will be asked to declare any health conditions that could affect your ability to study on a social work course and to undertake practice placements safely. Telling us about a health condition will not necessarily prevent you from being registered, but could lead to conditions being placed on your registration so that you can work or study safely. The health requirement is not a bar to registering for people with disabilities.
Can I just register when I am a qualified social worker?
You will be spending up to 200 days working with service users, so it is important that you meet the same criteria as qualified social workers. This means that service users you are working with can have confidence. Your university may be financially penalised if they allow you to go out on placement before you are registered. It is important that you work with them to make sure you are registered as close as possible to the start of your course.
How much does registration cost?
Registration for social work students is £10 per year, which works out at less than 3p a day. The fee is the same throughout the UK.
How long does registration last?
Registration lasts for the duration of your course, or seven years from the date of registration, whichever is shorter. We will tell you the dates of your registration period when we write to confirm you have been registered.
What information do you collect on the registration form?
Details collected and held about student social workers are:
- name and address; date of birth; gender; previous names; National Insurance number; current job; previous jobs; details of your course; 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 town where you are studying.
Is there any guidance on filling in the form?
Yes, the application pack will have a booklet to help you complete the application form, and there's a registration helpline you can call on 0845 070 0630. There is also an email address for queries about registration, registration@gscc.org.uk
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 Registration Committee.
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 being 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)
- the course you are studying (for example if you qualify, withdraw from your course, interrupt your study with time off, or transfer to another course)
- any paid or voluntary employment in social care you undertake during your period of study
- your contact details
- registration with another regulatory organisation
- your physical or mental health
- 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
What do I do if I'm not happy with the way you've handled my application?
We will 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.
If you disagree with a decision not to register you, you can appeal to The Care Standards Tribunal.