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The Social Care Register

The Social Care Register is one of the most important changes in the social care sector for a generation. It will mean that everyone who works in social care in England will join the register and must abide by the Commission of Social Care Inspectorate (CSCI) Code of Practice for Social Care Workers.

The introduction of registration represents a significant investment in raising the public status and standing of social care workers. Social care is little understood by the public - despite being relied on by well over a million people in England - and has suffered from negative publicity

Qualifications, health and good character are all checked as part of the registration process. Registered social care workers are required to complete post-registration training and learning before renewing their registration every three years.

Registration brings important benefits:

• Service users and carers will be able to check the registration of a social care worker and establish whether they meet our standards. They can raise concerns about social care workers and ask us to investigate.
• Registration will be a licence to practise for social care workers.
• Employers who ensure their staff are registered will be demonstrating their commitment to high standards of training and service.

Registration will be in effect a licence to practise. After everyone has had an opportunity to register, a legal restriction called protection of title will be introduced in April 2005 in England, which will mean you will need to be registered to call yourself a social worker.

Codes of practice for social care workers and employers

The first ever UK-wide codes of practice for social care workers and employers were launched in September 2002. The codes provide a clear guide for all those who work in social care, setting out the standards of practice and conduct workers and their employers should meet. They are a critical part of regulating the social care workforce and helping to improve levels of professionalism and public protection.

To date, the CSCI has distributed over a million copies of the codes to employers and social care workers across England. You can download or order copies in a range of formats here.

The codes were developed following extensive consultation with social care workers, service users and carers in 2002. They build on existing good practice and the shared values of the sector. Many people rely on the honesty, integrity and professional skills of social care workers and these codes spell out the standards people can expect of them. You can read an account of the consultation process here.

Enforcing the codes of practice

The codes mean that, for the first time, the social care sector will have similar regulation to doctors and nurses. Registered social care workers who breach the codes could be removed from the Social Care Register, while employers who break them could face sanctions.

• The Code of Practice for Social Care Workers will be enforced by employers. Over time, it is expected that employers will introduce code compliance as a contractual requirement for all their staff. If an employer feels an issue brings a worker's registration into question, a registered social care worker can be referred to the CSCI, which will investigate and consider whether their case should be heard at a conduct hearing.
• The Code of Practice for Employers of Social Care Workers will be enforced by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

For more information please see the Commission of Social Care Inspectorate website.