General Social Care Council

Transfer of GSCCs functions to the HPC FAQs

Please note: these changes apply to England only

Last updated 25 April 2012

 

Transfer background

• What's happening to the GSCC?
• What is the Health Professions Council? 
• What does it mean for social workers?

 

Initial and post qualifying education and training

• Will this affect my degree course?
• Who will regulate social work education in the future?
• Do I still need to complete my PRTL?
• What will happen to the PRTL I have built up after the transfer?
• I was planning to do a post-qualifying (PQ) course – what will happen to this?
• Will I have to demonstrate what ongoing training (PRTL/CPD) I have completed when first renewing my registration with the HPC in 2012?

 

Registration fees

• Why should I pay my fee if you are closing?
• What will happen to my £30, will it get transferred over or will I get a refund?
• Will we have to pay higher fees under the HPC?
• How does the HPC’s registration work?

 

Registration

• Do social workers still  need to register and renew their registration until the transfer?
• Does the HPC register students? 
• I've just applied to the social care register, what will happen to my registration?
• What will happen to my registration?
• What will I have to do when the transfer to the HPC happens?
• Will anything happen to my data ahead of the transfer?

 

Standards and conduct

• Do I still need to report conduct matters to you?
• Do employers still need to tell the GSCC about potential misconduct on behalf of a social worker?
• Who do I complain to about a social worker?
• I currently have conditions on my registration or I am currently subject to a sanction given by a conduct committee. What will happen to these?
• Do I still have to meet the codes of practice?
• The GSCC is currently investigating me. What will happen to this?
• Will the HPC be making any decisions on my case before the transfer?
• When the GSCC closes, when and how will I be informed whether the HPC will proceed with my case?
• Will my case be heard by the GSCC?
• What will happen to my case?

 

Getting involved

• I want to have a say on the transfer, where can I express my views?
• How can I get involved with the transfer and the HPC?
• Partners
• Governance
• Events

 

Transfer background

What's happening to the GSCC?

In July 2010, the Government announced that the GSCC will close and its regulatory functions will be transferred to the Health Professions Council (HPC). The transfer will happen on the 31 July, with the HPC becoming the new regulator for social workers on the 1 August 2012. The HPC will also change its name to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This means that in the future social workers in England will continue to be regulated, but by a different body. Social workers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will continue to be regulated by their respective Care Councils.

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What is the Health Professions Council?

The HPC is the independent regulator of 15 health and care professions and currently regulates about 219,000 professionals. For more detailed information please visit www.hpc-uk.org.

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What does it mean for social workers?

Until the transfer, social workers and social work students will need to continue to register with the GSCC, and continue to meet the requirements of registration such as informing the GSCC of any changes to personal details, keeping post-registration training and learning (PRTL) up-to-date and paying the annual fee.

After the transfer, social workers will still be regulated, but by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Much will remain the same after the transfer; social work will still be a regulated profession and anyone who wants to call themselves a social worker will need to be registered. Social workers will still need to renew their registration and will still need to abide by a set of standards that they can be held to account against. 

However, there will be some key changes. Currently the GSCC investigates allegations of misconduct against social workers, the HPC will instead investigate allegations of impairment to practice.  Also, the GSCC renews registration every three years whereas the HPC will renew every two years. The fees for registration will also be different (more details in the questions below)

The HPC and the GSCC are committed to working together to ensure that the transfer is as smooth as possible and detailed discussions are taking place about how the transfer of regulatory functions will work and the consequences of this. We will keep everyone up-to-date with new information via our website and our newsletter Social Work Connections, which you can sign up to.

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Initial and post qualifying education and training

Will this affect my degree course?

No. The GSCC will continue to monitor social work degree courses until its functions are transferred to the HPC, which will be on 31 July 2012. Even if you are in the middle of your degree when the transfer takes place it will not affect your studies or you becoming a social worker. Courses approved by the GSCC will be automatically transferred to the HPC. The HPC will then begin their inspection and monitoring of the courses.

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Who will regulate social work education in the future?

The HPC will regulate the social work degree. Universities will have to show that they are preparing social workers with the skills necessary to meet the HPC’s standards of proficiency via their standards of education and training. Details of this can be found on the HPC’s website.

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Do I still need to complete my PRTL?

Yes, PRTL is a requirement of your registration and will continue to be a requirement until the transfer. Currently you need to complete 15 days or 90 hours every three years in order to renew your registration with the GSCC, although this will change under the HPC. If you do not do this training, you could be removed from the register.

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What will happen to the PRTL I have built up after the transfer?

The HPC refers to PRTL as continuing professional development (CPD) and have a different system to the GSCC. When social workers initially renew their registration with the HPC in November 2012, this process will not include an audit of your PRTL/CPD. However, it is important that you maintain this as part of your professional development and for future renewal with the HPC. You can learn more on the HPC’s website.

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I was planning to do a post-qualifying (PQ) course – what will happen to this?

PQ courses will continue to be run, but they will not be accredited by the HPC. Discussions are continuing, but it is expected that the College of Social Work will play a role in accrediting or endorsing PQ education and training. As part of the Social Work Reform Board’s proposals, it is expected that a Professional Capabilities Framework will be developed over time, which will help inform the content of PQ courses and a career structure for social work. Work on this will be led by the College of Social Work and more information can be found on their website.

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Will I have to demonstrate what ongoing training (PRTL/CPD) I have completed when first renewing my registration with the HPC in 2012?

No, the initial renewal of registration with the HPC will not include an audit of CPD, this will just formalise your registration with the HPC. The first audit of social workers’ CPD will take place during the renewal of registration in 2014.  You should keep a record of all the training you have undertaken in the two years up to that time.  Further information about the HPC requirement for CPD is on their website. 

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Registration fees

Why should I pay my fee if you are closing?

In the interests of public protection, social workers are legally required to register with the GSCC and therefore must continue to pay their annual registration fee.

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What will happen to my £30, will it get transferred over or will I get a refund?

No it won’t. The fee is a payment to be on the GSCC register. Please continue to pay your fee as usual or you risk being removed from the register. Further information will be made available to you via our website and newsletter. 

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Will we have to pay higher fees under the HPC?

Every professional registered with the HPC has to pay an annual fee, which is £76. Some registrants, however, will qualify for a discount. For example, newly qualified graduates receive a 50 per cent reduction in the fee in their first two professional years. We understand from the HPC that there are no immediate plans to increase its fees.  

For more information about the HPC's fees and payments structure please see their website. 

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How does the HPC’s registration work?

The HPC’s registration period is two years (24 months) and the registration fee is likely to be £76 a year - the same as the other professions regulated by the HPC. Social workers will be given a number of options for payment, one of which will be the option to pay by direct debit every six months at £38.

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Registration

Do social workers still need to register and renew their registration until the transfer?

Yes if you want to carry on practicing as a social worker. Social work continues to be a regulated profession and in the interests of public protection, social workers are legally required to register with the GSCC. It is illegal to practise as a social worker without being registered with the GSCC.

If you are due to renew, the GSCC will write to remind you in plenty of time. You will need to complete the renewal form and return it to the GSCC with the relevant information within the time limit specified in your reminder letter. If you fail to do so you could be removed from the register and will not be able to practise as a social worker.

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Does the HPC register students?

Currently the HPC does not register students. However, the government has announced that it intends to provide for the transfer of the GSCC’s student register to the HPC. The Health and Social Care Bill, which is currently before Parliament, includes powers which would allow the HPC to set up voluntary registers of students studying programmes which lead to registration. 

The HPC has undertaken a preliminary impact assessment and is consulting on this issue now.  Details of the HPC consultation can be found on the HPC website.

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I've just applied to the social care register, what will happen to my registration?

The GSCC is processing all new applications as normal until registration is transferred to the HPC. It is important that anyone practising social work in England registers with the GSCC as it remains a legal requirement to do so.

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What will happen to my registration?

When the transfer happens, your registration details will be passed to the HPC, who will contact you about their registration requirements. It is essential that the contact details the GSCC have for you are up-to-date.

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What will I have to do when the transfer to the HPC happens?

Nothing. The GSCC will manage the transfer of your registration to the HPC. Following the transfer, the HPC will be in touch to formalise your registration with them. It is essential that the contact details the GSCC have for you are up-to-date.

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Will anything happen to my data ahead of the transfer?

The GSCC has begun securely sharing information with the HPC about the Social Care Register and our registrants. The HPC needs this information before the GSCC closes so that they can be fully prepared to open their register on the day of transfer.

Both the GSCC and the HPC take the security and confidentiality of individual registrant’s data very seriously. All information shared with the HPC will be shared safely and securely and electronic information will be encrypted to the recommended industry standards.

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Standards and conduct

Do I still need to report conduct matters to you?

Yes, this remains the case until our role is transferred to the HPC. We will continue to accept and risk assess all conduct referrals up to 31 July 2012.  Referrals which are open on 31 July 2012 will be transferred to the HPC.

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Do employers still need to tell the GSCC about potential misconduct of a social worker?

Yes, this is extremely important to ensure public protection. Please continue to inform the GSCC of any matters that might affect a social worker's suitability to be on the register. After the GSCC’s functions are transferred to HPC, you must then contact them with any concerns about a social worker.

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Who do I complain to about a social worker?

This has not changed. In the first instance, you should raise your concerns with the employer of the social worker. If, having done this, you still have concerns over the suitability of someone to practise as a social worker or believe there is a public protection risk please contact us. We will continue to handle complaints until the date of our transfer.

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I currently have conditions on my registration or I am currently subject to a sanction given by a conduct committee. What will happen to these?

Registration details, including conditions and sanctions, will be transferred to the HPC which runs a fitness to practise process, you can find more information on the HPC’s website. The GSCC or HPC will contact you nearer the date of the transfer to let you know what will happen.

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Do I still have to meet the codes of practice?

Yes, while registered with the GSCC you are bound by the code of practice for social workers. 

After the transfer, social workers will have to meet the HPC’s standards of proficiency that will be specific for social workers. These professional standards set out the knowledge and skills that social workers require in order to enter the HPC’s register.

Like all professions the HPC regulates, social workers will also have to meet the HPC’s standards of conduct, performance and ethics. These are multi-professional standards the HPC holds all the professions it regulates to. For more information about these standards please see www.hpc-uk.org/publications

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The GSCC is currently investigating me.  What will happen to this?

We will continue to carry out investigations and keep you informed of progress. We have been working to conclude as many cases as we can ahead of the transfer and any open cases will be transferred across to the HPC. We will let you know nearer the time whether your case will be transferring to the HPC and what will happen next.

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Will the HPC be making any decisions on my case before the transfer?

The GSCC will continue to hold conduct hearings up to the transfer. It might not be possible to complete investigations and schedule hearings for all its open cases. The GSCC will contact you to let you know whether your hearing will be held with the GSCC or if your case will be transferred to the HPC.

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When the GSCC closes, when and how will I be informed whether the HPC will proceed with my case?

HPC will be reviewing all cases that are transferred to it. They will contact you as soon as this review has taken place and provide you with the details of a point of contact at the HPC. You will also be able to contact the HPC Fitness to Practise team if you have questions about their investigatory processes

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Will my case be heard by the GSCC?

Unless you have been informed that your case is going to a hearing by the GSCC, your case will not be heard by us. It is not possible to complete all investigations and schedule hearings for all open cases before the GSCC closes on the 31 July, so it will be necessary to transfer some cases to the HPC.
We will contact you to let you know whether your case will be transferred to the HPC.

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What will happen to my case?

We will write to you in July to give you a contact at the HPC for your case. The HPC will then contact you and let you know how they will be proceeding with the referral.

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Getting involved

I want to have a say on the transfer, where can I express my views?

To have your say on the transfer or discuss any social work issues with your peers, you can join the forum on our website, which is exclusively for GSCC registrants.

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How can I get involved with the transfer and the HPC?

The HPC will be consulting on a number of different things to do with the transfer in the months leading up to it. To get involved and have your say look on the HPC’s website: www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/consultations.

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Partners

In the run up to the transfer, the HPC are seeking to recruit social work partners in England who are currently registered with the GSCC to a wide range of roles. For more information see the HPC’s website: www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/partners.

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Governance

Once the transfer takes place social workers will be eligible to join HPC’s Council and Committees. Recruitment will take place initially for a social worker to join its Education and Training Committee.

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Events

In the run up to the transfer HPC will be holding a series of Meet the HPC and Employer events around England, and will invite those transferring and those employing social workers to meet and discuss issues with members of HPC’s Executive and Council.

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