From June we’ll introduce a three-year timescale for new registrants in the social care workforce to gain their qualification for registration.

We’ve published a new guide for social care providers on employing 16 and 17-year-olds to provide practical support and help when recruiting young people.

We recently held online events to support employers to understand how people should meet the new continuous professional learning (CPL) and return to practice (RTP) registration requirements which came into effect in June 2024. 

Following the changes to our Register earlier this year, workers now need to apply for registration within three months of starting their role. They still need to be registered within six months as before.  

The Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW) Supported Year is mandatory from today, 1 October 2024. It’s part of the framework that will set out a clear pathway for social workers and employers from qualification to advanced practice.

We want people to know what it means to be registered with the SSSC, to know about the benefits and value of being registered and the standards, skills and qualifications needed to deliver high quality care.  

We’re hosting quarterly forums to support implementation of the Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW) Supported Year. These are for NQSWs undertaking a Supported Year, those supervising NQSWs and employers and strategic leads for NQSWs. 

We’ve developed social care specific guidance on the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 to help you understand the roles and responsibilities for safe staffing. 

Our new dedicated website for the Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW) Supported Year in Scotland is now live.

Do you have staff whose registration is due for renewal between 1 March and 31 May 2024? 

The percentage of care services reporting staff vacancies has increased to the highest level since publication of figures began in 2017. According to a new report published by the Care Inspectorate and the Scottish Social Services Council nearly half (49%) of all care services in Scotland reported having vacancies at the end of 2022.

Do you recruit from overseas or are you considering this? Our new Pre-employment and induction guide for employers of overseas workers, refugees and asylum seekers can help you.