General Social Care Council

Post qualifying regulation

This section contains information and documentation relating to the monitoring of post qualifying courses.

Post Qualifying Documents


Within this section you can download guidance on the Post Qualifying (PQ) framework, specialist standards and requirements as well as copies of past PQ Updates.

Concerns

View information on how to raise a concern about the quality of an approved social work degree and university post qualifying course.

Regulating courses at Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) level

Under the Mental Health (Approval of Persons to be Approved Mental Health Professionals) (England) Regulations 2007 local social services authorities can only approve professionals who have successfully completed Approved Mental Health Professional  (AMHP) training approved by the GSCC. The GSCC has duties under Section 54 of the Care Standards Act 2000 to approve, monitor and inspect provision for social work education and training.  Section 19 of the Mental Health Act 2007 extends these to the approval of AMHP training.  The GSCC approves AMHP training also on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for nurses and the Health Professions Council (HPC) for occupational therapists and psychologists.

During 2011 the GSCC is inspecting all approved courses offering the training for the Approved Mental Heath Professional (AMHP) role as defined by the Mental Health Act (2007).   The inspection will determine that the course continues to meet the requirements for AMHP training as defined in Section 3 of  ‘Social work in mental health services’ (Revised May 2010).