With care workers being added to the shortage occupation list from mid-February, the Home Office is delivering two events on 21 and 25 January 2022 to provide an overview of the points-based system, the routes available for the care sector and how to become a sponsor.

New social care staff starting a career in a care home, care at home, housing support, adult day care* or a residential child care service including school care accommodation must apply to register with the SSSC within 12 months of starting their employment. 

(Updated 24 January 2022)

The UK government has announced a temporary expansion to the existing Health and Care Visa Scheme.

SSSC Chief Executive Lorraine Gray thanks the social work, social care and early years workforce for their continuing work in tackling the pandemic as winter begins. 

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) is seeking views on their plans to create a Register for the future in a consultation launched today. They are proposing changes to the Register, processes and the qualifications accepted for registration.

At this time of year, some organisations will start to close, while others may be running with reduced staff which can make organisations vulnerable to online attacks.

The Care Inspectorate and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) have today published new figures on the levels of staff vacancies in Scotland’s social care services. It shows the level of reported vacancies in social care is more than three times that across all types of employers. 

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has published its 2020-2021 Annual Report.

Last month we shared information about this new college course, funded by the National Transition Training Fund, which can help people to prepare for a new career in social care.

SSSC’s Learning and Development Adviser, Kerry Cannon recently spoke with Sarah Allison, Learning and Skills Manager at West Lothian College, who told us about a new initiative designed to help mobile testing unit operatives start new careers in health and social care.

We want to make sure the letters and emails we send are as clear, helpful and easy to understand as possible and we really need your help to do this. 

This new course is available to people over 25 who are unemployed (or at risk of unemployment or redundancy) and considering a change of career. It’s funded by the National Transition Training Fund which means there is no cost to take part.