What is Happening?
With effect from 1st August 2012 all Social Workers currently on the GSCC register will transfer to the Health Professionals Council (HPC), which will then be known as the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).
Who will the HCPC Regulate?
The HCPC will only regulate Social Workers in England. Social Workers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will need to ensure they are registered with the respective regulators, Care Council for Wales, Scottish Social Services Council and Northern Ireland Social Services Council.
As long as you are currently on the GSCC register, your details will transfer automatically to the HCPC on 24th July 2012. The HCPC will then contact you with your unique access code to register online. It is therefore very important that you make sure your contact details are up to date with the GSCC before 18th July 2012.
The GSCC will cease to accept new applications to register with effect from 18th July 2012.
You can send updated details:
• By email to changeofcircumstances@gscc.org.uk
• By letter to GSCC, Myson House, Railway Terrace, Rugby, CV21 3HT
• By telephone on 0845 070 0630 or 01788 532402.
You will be able to logon to your registration page on the HCPC from 1st September 2012 and you will need to have completed your registration by 6pm on 30th November 2012.
If your GSCC registration is due to renew in July you will still need to complete the forms, however, you will not need to pay your renewal fee.
What happens if I don’t register by the close date?
If you do not complete your registration by the 30th November 2012, you will automatically be removed from the register and will be unable to use the title of Social Worker until you have re-registered.
If your registration lapses, you will need to complete re-admission forms and provide a health declaration, a character reference and proof of identity. If you do this within a month of lapsing there will be no charge, however, if the period is longer than a month the fee will be £115.
How much does registration cost?
Registration with the HCPC is £76 per year or £152 for 2 years. If you register for 2 years, you will be given the option to pay £38 every 6 months rather than a one off payment. Registration with the HCPC will be 2 years rather than 3 years.
I am a student, do I still need to register?
The HCPC will not register students, therefore you will not be required to register. Once you are qualified, registration with the HCPC should only take approximately 1 week to be complete.
The GSCC currently provide a minimum training requirement, will this be the same with the HCPC?
The HCPC will not state a set amount of training that needs to be undertaken, instead the relevance of the training will be considered. They will measure the outcome of the training. You will have a log on your registration page online which will need to be updated during the 2 year registration period.
• A summary of recent work completed.
• A Statement of how standards have been met and how the training has helped you to meet these standards, how you are benefitting from the training and how service users are benefitting from this.
• Evidence of the training, notes from courses, supervision and team meetings, certificates.
Complaints
If a complaint is made to the HCPC they will look at the effect on practice. The sanctions that can be imposed following investigations are:
• A caution order which can go on your record for up to 5 years.
• A condition of practice order. This means that you will be able to continue to practice but you will receive close supervision and relevant training to ensure that there is an improvement in practice.
• A suspension order. Before you will be able to re-apply to register you will have to complete relevant training and be able to show how you will change your practice in the future.
A temporary suspension may also be imposed during the investigation which will mean that you will be unable to work as a Social Worker until the investigation is complete.
When investigating complaints the HCPC will look at your fitness to work and how the allegation affects your practice.
If you are currently undergoing an investigation with the GSCC, you will be contacted separately regarding whether your case will transfer to the HCPC or whether it will be concluded by the GSCC.
Please contact us at info@rigsocialcare.co.uk, call 0845 363 1085 or visit our website www.rigsocialcare.co.uk for any further information.
Kelly Gaffney
Northern Manager
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