New report on registering suitable social workers
19 September 2008
A new report looks at how people who use social care services
are being protected from unsuitable social workers.
The report has been published by the General Social Care Council
(GSCC). The GSCC sets standards for social workers and their
employers and determines what is appropriate behaviour in the
workplace.
It regulates the social care workforce by deciding who is
suitable for registration. It also investigates complaints against
registered social workers and takes appropriate action.
The report shows that almost 800 people have been refused
professional registration and 23 people have been barred from
practice in the last five years.
Over a third of all cases involved inappropriate relationships
between social workers and people who use services or their family
members.
Commenting on the report, Sir Rodney Brooke, Chair of the GSCC,
says:
“Misconduct is very rare, and the majority of the 97,000 social
workers and students carry out their work with true
professionalism.”
“Perhaps more than any other profession, social workers should
be acutely aware of the boundaries that should be in place in terms
of their relationships with people who use services, their families
and carers.”
“Inappropriate relationships can potentially put people who use
services at risk.”
The GSCC is now working on additional guidance for social care
professionals.