Fitness to Practise Panels play a key role in the fair, independent and transparent regulation of the social work, social care and children and young people workforce. They make decisions on fitness to practise cases in the name of the SSSC but are independent. 

Social service workers, like anybody else, have the right to a safe place of work, free from harassment and from other harmful acts. Unfortunately, as with any other sector, there are cases of inappropriate behaviour in social service workplaces.  

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.  

We get very few fitness to practise referrals for Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW), however the introduction of the NQSW Supported Year from this October may influence the kinds of referrals we receive.

We are working with partners across the UK to review the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Health and Social Care and Childcare learning and development.

We’re in the final stages of the Codes of Practice review. Over the past two years, we gathered feedback and ideas from registrants, employers, learning providers, people experiencing care and other key stakeholders.

We are looking for people to sit as independent Panel Members on the Scottish Social Services Council’s (SSSC) Fitness to Practise Panels for 20 days per year. We are looking to people who do not have a background in social services (lay members).

A new data report by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) provides an insight into its role in protecting the public by ensuring the registered workforce is trusted, skilled and fit to practise.

Social service workers have an important role in the lives of the people they support and rely on trust and rapport to develop good working relationships. Professional boundaries are the limits that make sure the relationship between a worker and the person using services is a safe and supportive one.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and the Care Inspectorate have issued a joint statement reminding people working in services and employers of our guidance on how to raise concerns in the workplace and the importance of speaking up. 

When was the last time you signed in to your MySSSC account and checked your contact details and personal information?

As an SSSC registrant it’s important to remember the Codes of Practice also apply to behaviour outside of work and we can investigate your fitness to practise if your suitability to work in social services is questioned.