Post on 27-Dec-2015
Beyond Reproach? The Impact of
Regulation on Professional Practice and Conduct
Paul Webster – Education and Inspection Manager - GSCC
Ian Johnston - Chief Executive - BASW
SSRG Annual Workshop Joining Up Locally: Partnerships forbetter Practice and Performance
17th April 2007 - Leicester
About BASW
A professional association – not a trade union
37 years old - 11,300 members
Collectively committed to values and principles
Code of ethics since 1973
Campaigned for independent - not self-regulation
Protection of title for qualified social workers
An inclusive register for the social care workforce
Great expectations!!!!
www.gscc.org.uk
• Codes - 2 million copies of the codes for employers and workers distributed and liked by the sector
• Conduct - we have had over 700 individual social workers referred to us; over 50 investigations(10 proceeded with) ; 9 concluded conduct hearings; 6 admonitions; 1 suspension and 2 removals
• Register – The Social Care Register currently has almost 77,000 social workers, and almost 15000 social work students.
Our impact on the care sector since 2002
www.gscc.org.uk
• The GSCC is now looking to open the register to other social care workers after registering social workers. The next phase is:
• All domiciliary care workers and their managers in the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) regulatory framework should be in the next groups to be registered
• It is proposed that the Social Care Register will be opened to this next group of social care workers early 2008
• The task of registering an estimated 200,000 workers will not be easy
Next groups to register
www.gscc.org.uk
• Over 70 universities approved to run degree courses and new ones still applying
• 120 degree courses part time, full time, college or employment based, at undergraduate and post graduate level
• Annual intake of @5500 students
Education and training: qualifying
www.gscc.org.uk
New PQ framework and new standards and requirements published for
Children, young people, families and carers
Leadership and management
Practice education
Social work with adults
Mental health requirements ( including approved social workers and approved mental health professionals)
Post qualifying training
Impact on performance and service delivery
• GSCC primary role is protection of the public; and promoting
• Public confidence in the social care sector; through
• A national transparent system of accountability ; for whistleblowing
• Designed to enhance and build professional reputation, credibility, standing
BUT
Measurement of standards
• How does one measure impact on standards other than registration refusals and conduct outcomes ?
• How does one measure the impact of new training?
• Do the Codes and registration influence attitudes, behaviour and performance?
• How do employers use the Codes for workforce training, development and disciplining?
• What should the relationship be between BASW’s Code of Ethics and the Codes of Practice?
Moral and ethical issues
• The GSCC Code for employees has 41 prescriptions or injunctions
• What constitutes a breach?
• Where does being of ‘good character’ come into this?
• Are there any legitimate boundaries between private and public life?
• How might the employer (and the employer code) be implicated in a worker’s misconduct?
• How can we ensure that decisions are proportionate and fair and that they reflect our values?