What does registration mean for employers?
Registration is a major part of the drive for higher standards in social services and is bringing the social service workforce in line with other professional colleagues. Nursing, medicine and teaching are all regulated professions and workers have to register with their own regulatory bodies to be able to work in their field. Social service workers now have to do the same.
What is a function based register?
The Register for social service workers is function based, rather than qualification based, meaning that to register with the SSSC a worker must be performing a relevant role in a service registered by the Care Inspectorate, rather than holding a specific qualification, before they become eligible to register with us.
The Register for social workers and students is based on either holding or studying for a suitable social work qualification.
The benefits
Registration is evidence that people who work in social services meet the competence, good character and conduct requirements set for registration and that they are committed to meeting the Code of Practice for Social Service Workers. The qualification requirements set for registration mean that all workers undertaking a particular role, wherever they work in Scotland, will be required to demonstrate the same level of competence and adhere to the same Code of Practice. Registration increases awareness of, and public confidence in, the important role that the social service workforce plays in the community.
To register a worker must satisfy the criteria for registration. This includes holding or agreeing to work towards the appropriate qualifications for the job they do and being able to evidence good character.
Applicants for registration who do not hold the required qualifications may, if they meet all the other eligibility criteria for registration eg evidence of ‘good character', be granted registration subject to the condition that they achieve the required qualifications within a specified period - normally their first three year period of registration.
Who can apply?
Find out if your employees can apply to register with the SSSC
How to apply
Encourage your employees to apply for registration online to get it right first time:
