General Social Care Council

GSCC responses to external consultations and calls for evidence

The GSCC responds to consultations on changes to the policies of other government bodies and organisations, and to calls for evidence from parliamentary committees, review bodies, and legislation.

We do this to ensure that policy changes outside the GSCC have a positive impact on public protection and standards in social work and support the regulatory activities which we undertake.

These responses also allow us to share the expertise that we have gained from carrying out our work, so that other organisations and the public can benefit from it.

As part of our work as a regulator, we work closely with Government and parliamentarians, providing briefings on issues of relevance, contributing to inquiries and providing evidence to Select and Joint Committees and All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

Briefings and consultation responses

The HPC's consultation on student registration

• The GSCC's response to the student consultation

The HPC's consultation on the Draft Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers

• The GSCC's response to the Draft Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers
  

The GSCC’s response to the EU’s consultation on the Modernising Professional Qualifications Directive

The GSCC has submitted its response to the European Commission’s green paper on the future of the Modernising Professional Qualifications Directive. The consultation is wide-ranging includes the use of professional cards and language testing.

• GSCC's response to the EU's consultation on Modernising Profession Qualifications Directive

The GSCC’s response the Ofsted consultation on the inspection of local authority children’s services

In September 2011 the GSCC submitted its response Ofsted’s consultation and welcomed the proposals for more unannounced inspections and direct observation.

• GSCC's response to Ofsted consutation on the inspection of local authority children's services

GSCC briefing for Commons debate on the Munro Report, 9 June 2011

The GSCC has published a briefing note for MPs for the Commons debate on the recommendations of the Munro Review of Child Protection – “A child-centred system”.  The Report made some recommendations relevant to the professional regulation of social workers; the briefing comments on these recommendations.

• GSCC Briefing: Debate on the Munro Report, 9 June 2011 (PDF 65KB)

GSCC evidence - GMC call for evidence on doctors’ roles and responsibilities in child protection

In September 2010, the GSCC submitted a response to the GMC's call for evidence on the role of doctors in child protection. The GMC was asking for this evidence to inform new GMC guidance for all doctors involved in child protection work.

• GSCC evidence - GMC (Word doc)

GSCC submission to the Munro Review

In September 2010, the GSCC submitted written evidence to the Government’s review of the child protection system being carried out by Professor Eileen Munro, who is an authority on risk management and child welfare. The review aims to identify obstacles to improvement and steps that can be taken to improve social work practice.

Our evidence focused on the future of social work regulation with an emphasis on keeping the momentum of the current reforms going throughout the transfer to the HPC. We highlighted the contributions that the professional regulator can make to the development of a confident and authoritative workforce.

For more information, you can read the full submission:

• GSCC submission  (PDF)

The Future of Social Work in Adult Social Services in England

The Department of Health, together with a number of partners in the social work sector and in consultation with the GSCC and others, has produced a statement, 'The Future of Social Work in Adult Social Services in England'

In its interim report the Social Work Task Force stressed the need for a clear understanding of the work that we need social workers for, and how their effective practice can improve outcomes. The Task Force developed a description of social work, for the profession to use to explain itself to the public. Building on this description of social work, the statement undertakes to develop a clear articulation of the tasks that social workers should perform in adults' services and the skills and knowledge they need.

Select Committee on Health – Inquiry into Social Care

In October 2009 the Health Committee launched its inquiry focused on the future of social care services and funding following the publication of the social care green paper 'Shaping the Future of Social Care Together'. GSCC evidence focused on personalisation of services and the regulation of the workforce.

• GSCC's written evidence (PDF)
• Oral evidence (PDF)
• Final report (PDF)

Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families – Inquiry into Training of Children's and Families' Social Workers

The Inquiry was established to work in parallel with, and contribute to, the Social Work Task Force. The GSCC provided evidence to the committee on the Social Work Degree and post qualification training. The final report was published 23 July 2009.

• GSCC's written evidence and supplementary (PDF)
• Oral evidence (PDF)
• Final report (PDF)

Health and Social Care Act 2008

The Act established the joint health and social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission, responsible for regulation and registration of certain health and social care service providers. During the passage of the Act the GSCC briefed parliamentarians about the relevant aspects of the Act.

• GSCC Briefing on the Health and Social Care Bill for the Commons Committee Stage (Word)
• GSCC Briefing for the Lords 2nd Reading on the Health and Social Care Bill 2007 (Word)

Children and Young Persons Bill 2007

The Bill will reform the statutory framework for the care system, to ensure that children and young people receive high quality care and support and to drive improvements in the delivery of services focused on the needs of the child. During the passage of the Bill the GSCC is briefing parliamentarians where aspects of the Bill relate to its work.

• House of Commons second Reading - 16 June 2008 (Word)
• House of Lords Report - 17 March 2008 (PDF)

Parliamentary enquiries

GSCC regularly contributes to inquiries led by Select and Joint committee and All-Party Parliamentary Groups. Please read about our recent submissions below:

Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families – Inquiry into Looked-After Children:

The GSCC was invited to submit oral and written evidence to the Committee's inquiry, which focused on all aspects of care for looked-after children. The GSCC's interim Director of Strategy gave evidence to the Committee's inquiry during the Committee's evidence session on conduct of care and adoption proceedings.

• GSCC's written evidence (PDF)
• Transcript of oral evidence (PDF)
• Final report (PDF)

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Care – Inquiry into social care workforce:

During 2007-2008, the Group held an inquiry into social care workforce. The GSCC submitted evidence to the inquiry, in which it outlined the work of the GSCC to improve standards in social care through greater regulation. The work on the inquiry was coordinated by the Social Care Institute for Excellence and the report was published in summer 2008.

• Summary of GSCC evidence

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Local Government

During 2007-2008, the Group held an inquiry into the long-term care and wellbeing of older people. The GSCC submitted evidence to the enquiry, in which it outlined the contribution of regulation of care professionals to improving care for older people. The work on the inquiry is led by the Local Government's Information Unit.