General Social Care Council

Verification of qualifications gained in the UK

Currently The General Social Care Council (GSCC) can verify UK social work qualifications, (pre the Social Work Degree) for which we, or our predecessor organisation Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW) were the awarding body.

The GSCC provides this service on behalf of all of the UK councils.

However, as of the 1st June 2012 the qualification verification service for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be transferred to the relevant UK councils. Care Council for Wales will be responsible for verifying any approved qualification (pre the Social Work Degree) gained in Wales, Northern Ireland Social Care Council will be responsible for verifying any approved qualification (pre the Social Work Degree) gained in Northern Ireland and Scottish Social Services Council will be responsible for verifying any approved qualification (pre the Social Work Degree) gained in Scotland.

The General Social Care Council will continue to offer the qualification verification service for any approved qualification (pre the Social Work Degree) gained in England until this function is transferred to the College of Social Work at the end of July 2012.

Since 1st May 2009 replacement certificates or verification certificates for any UK award have not been offered. This previously chargeable service was replaced by a free verification letter service. Letters of verification can only be issued to the award holder.  If the award holder gives prior written consent the letter of verification can be sent directly to an employer or employment agency.

The verification letter is a uniquely identifiable document which specifically identifies the qualification obtained, qualification date, training establishment attended, and the named recipient of an award (as at the time of qualification).

The letter of verification is not proof of identity or that a bearer is a registered qualified social worker. It remains the employer’s responsibility to check that an individual presenting a letter of verification is the person identified therein and that said individual is a registered qualified social worker with one of the four UK Councils.

The verification service will typically take up to twenty working days.

Please see the Verifiable Awards document for a list of UK qualifications eligible for a letter of verification.  Please note that not all of the qualifications on this list are recognised professional social work qualifications. You can view a full list of professional social work qualifications on the site. Only holders of these awards are eligible to apply for registration as a social worker.

Until 1 June 2012 all applications to apply for a letter of verification for your UK social work qualification should be sent to the GSCC.  Please complete the letter of verification application form and submit it to: qualverification@gscc.org.uk

More information and links to the relevant UK websites will be made available on 1 June 2012.