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PROPOSED REGISTRATION FEE LEVELS AND POST- REGISTRATION
TRAINING AND LEARNING REQUIREMENTS
UNISON Scotland's response to the Scottish Social
Services Council consultation on Proposed Registration Fee Levels
and Post Registration Training and Learning Requirements for Early
Education and Child Care Workers and Adult Residential Care Workers
June 2006
Executive Summary
- UNISON Scotland has always had concerns at the practice
of charging workers for registration.
- We believe that the various pay levels of workers have not
been taken into account especially the very low paid and part-time
workers and feel that a lower or pro rata rate should be applied
to these workers.
Introduction
UNISON is Scotland's largest trade union representing
over 150,000 members working in the public sector. UNISON Scotland
represents 25,000 workers from social services throughout Scotland,
with members employed as social workers, home care workers, residential
care workers, welfare rights workers, early years staff and others
administrating and supporting the social work team. Whilst most
of our social services workers are employed by Local Authorities,
we also represent a substantial number who work in the private
and voluntary sector.
UNISON Scotland is very supportive of the practice
of registration for social services staff, including those employed
in early education and child care and adult residential care services.
Response
Proposed fee levels for both Early Education
and Child Care Workers and Adult Residential Care Workers
UNISON Scotland has always had concerns at the practice
of charging workers for registration and indeed, many of our workers
believe that having achieved recognised qualifications, they should
not have to pay more money to SSSC for the process of being registered.
We note that the Scottish Executive has agreed to contribute towards
the costs of the initial registration but nevertheless, believe
that the level is still too high, particularly when the cost of
the Enhanced Disclosure Scotland check is included. We believe
that the various pay levels of workers have not been taken into
account especially the very low paid and part-time workers and
feel that a lower or pro rata level should be applied to these
workers. However, we welcome the registration period being set
at five years, which will lower the costs considerably over this
period.
Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL)
UNISON Scotland welcomes the proposals for all registered
workers to undertake PRTL and the requirement of their employers
to support them to do so. There is currently a huge disparity
in the levels and standard of training opportunities available.
As continuous professional development enhances service delivery,
employers must ensure that a range of high quality training, which
includes and allows for career progression, is available for all
staff
We believe that the amount of PRTL is acceptable,
but would emphasise that this needs to be flexibly applied to
accommodate shift patterns, part-time working, etc. and needs
to be readily available.
We believe that an important pre-requisite for all
staff undertaking PRTL is the availability of additional resources
to allow for back-filling of posts whilst the training is in progress
and urge the SSSC to ensure that this is applied.
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 342 2835
e-mail matt.smith@unison.co.uk
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