This report is the first annual report of our 2020-2023 strategy which we launched last May and sets out our achievements against our three strategic outcomes. We added a fourth strategic outcome in April 2021 which we will report on next year.
SSSC Chief Executive, Lorraine Gray said: ‘It was a year like no other for both our organisation and this sector. The unwavering commitment of the social work, social care and early years workforce to deliver safe and effective care during a global pandemic is a testament to the people who care for some of the most vulnerable in our society. And our staff more than met the challenge presented to them, quickly adapting and designing initiatives to support the workforce to continue to do their jobs.
‘Despite the challenges 2020 presented, we made progress in delivering the three strategic outcomes we implemented when we launched our 2020-2023 strategic plan in May 2020. We have transformed the way we work, made best use of technology and worked in partnership with the sector.
‘A particular highlight was September 2020 which marked a milestone as we completed registration of all the categories on our Register. Support workers in care at home and housing support were the final people to join our Register and keen to be part of a bigger professional workforce.
‘We recognise our part in delivering the work required to support the reform and reshaping of the regulatory landscape. And we look forward to collaborating with our stakeholders to support the workforce to deliver a more agile, responsive and innovative sector that meets new government policies and the reforms set out in the Promise Action Plan and the Independent Review of Adult Social Care.
‘I would like to thank the workforce and our staff for continuing to contribute so much during a time where demand could not have been higher or the challenge greater.’
Highlights from our 2020-2021 Annual Report
- Our staff helped support the sector and our registrants during the pandemic. We set up a Temporary Social Work Register to increase capacity in this part of the workforce, and we increased the grace period for registration from six to 12 months allowing the workforce and employers to concentrate on responding to the pandemic.
- In September 2020, we concluded registration of the last and largest categories of workers. This is a significant milestone in the regulation of the social service workforce and in the last three years we have registered over 62,000 workers.
- Both independently and in partnership with NHS Education for Scotland (NES), we published guidance and resources to support employers and the sector during the pandemic.
- In collaboration with NES, we helped to develop the health and social care recruitment portal. Social service workers engaged positively with the recruitment portal and working together with the Care Inspectorate, we used the data to determine, map and meet the demand for staff.
Download the full Annual Report and Accounts 2020-2021 on our website.