INTRODUCTION OF FINAL DATES TO ACHIEVE REGISTRATION WITH THE
SCOTTISH SOCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL (SSSC)
UNISON Scotland’s response to the Scottish Government’s Consultation
on the Introduction of Final Dates to achieve Registration with
the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
December 2008
Executive Summary
* Over the years, UNISONScotland has supported moves by the
Scottish Government to regulate the social service workforce.
* UNISON has always recognised that a timescale would be set
for final dates for registration and welcomes the way in which
the proposals have been compiled. In particular we support a
grace period being given for workers to register.
* Changing Lives emphasised the need for training and development
to enable all social service workers to fulfil their potential
and to provide the best service possible to service users.
UNISON wishes to take this opportunity to ensure that employers
are reminded of their obligations and responsibilities to provide
training and development for their workers.
* We welcome the commitment for the Scottish Social Services
Council (SSSC) to contact all workers and employers to advise
them when their employees’ completed applications should be
received to allow sufficient time for them to be processed.
However, the SSSC’s timetable must be realistic and achievable,
so that our members are not disadvantaged through any delays
by the SSSC.
* In addition, we believe that some employers are unclear on
the process for verifying overseas qualifications and would
welcome a clearly defined process on how these should be dealt
with so that any unnecessary delays can be avoided.
Introduction
UNISON is Scotland’s largest public sector trade union representing
over 160,000 members. UNISON Scotland represents tens of thousands
of members who work in the social care services, including many
social workers, social service workers, those managing and working
in children’s services, day care and residential care. These
members work in children’s and family services, support and
administrative staff, those involved with the justice service,
home care staff, etc.
UNISON Scotland welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Scottish
Government’s Consultation.
UNISON has always recognised that a timescale would be set for
final dates for registration and welcomes the way in which the
proposals have been compiled.
Response
Over the years, UNISONScotland has supported moves by the Scottish
Government to regulate the social service workforce, and has
welcomed its proposals “to strengthen and support the professionalism
of the workforce, raise service standards and practice and protect
the users of social services.”
UNISON and its members have worked throughout this time to support
the introduction of the registration process and to ensure that
adequate training and support is given to workers to enable
them to achieve the professional standards necessary for inclusion
in the relevant part of the register. Changing Lives emphasised
the need for training and development to enable all social service
workers to fulfil their potential and to provide the best service
possible to service users. We are concerned that this has not
happened in all workplaces and wish to take this opportunity
to ensure that employers are reminded of their obligations and
responsibilities in this matter.
We welcome the commitment in the proposals for the SSSC to contact
all workers and employers to advise them when their employees’
completed applications should be received by the SSSC to allow
sufficient time for the applications to be processed. However,
we would ask the Government to ensure that the SSSC’s timetable
is a realistic one and one which is achievable, so that our
members are not disadvantaged through any delays by the SSSC.
In addition, whilst larger employers, such as local authorities,
will have been able to introduce adequate procedures for ensuring
their employees are ready for registration, smaller employers,
such as some of those in the voluntary sector may not be in
the same position. We, therefore, believe that particular attention
should be given to these organisations to ensure they have adequate
time and funding to fulfil their obligations under these regulations.
We welcome the prescribed descriptions of the various categories
of social service workers, which clarify the relevant part of
the register that each category of worker should belong to.
We note the specific regulations for people who are currently
employed, being employed for the first time or are included
in the relevant social services register of other countries
within the United Kingdom. However, we would take this opportunity
to raise the situation of the relevant qualifications of those
who have gained their qualifications in a different country.
We believe that some employers are unclear on the process for
verifying overseas qualifications and would welcome a clearly
defined process on how these should be dealt with so that any
unnecessary delays can be avoided. This process should be widely
publicised to all employers by the SSSC
Consultation Question
Question 1
We agree with the grace period being given for newly qualified
social workers and for those who are registered as social workers
in one of the other countries of the United Kingdom.
Question 2
We agree with the grace period being given for social service
workers.
Question 3
We are happy with the grace period being set at a specific length
of time, provided, as outlined above, the timetable is able
to be met by the SSSC, as we would not want our members being
disadvantaged in any way by hold ups not of their own making.
Question 4
UNISON is happy with the registration dates set for the various
groups of social service workers, based on the dates that the
register has been open for the various groups.
For further information please contact:
Matt Smith, Scottish Secretary
UNISON Scotland
UNISON House
14, West Campbell Street,
Glasgow G2 6RX
Tel 0845 355 0845 Fax 0141-331 1203
e-mail matt.smith@unison.co.uk
d.watson@unison.co.uk
diane.anderson@unison.co.uk
