The Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the 12 registration boards to be established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 are responsible for protecting the public by regulating health and social care professionals.
The first registration board to be established, the Social Workers Registration Board, was established in August 2010, and the associated Social Workers Register opened for receipt and processing of applications for registration on 31 May, 2011.
Under the provisions of the 2005 Act, there is a two-year transitional period from the date on which the register of the members of that profession is established, during which existing practitioners may apply for registration. The transitional period for social workers will close on 31 May 2013. Thereafter, any social worker wishing to use the title will be required to be registered.
The name of every registered social worker will be published on the register maintained by CORU, which will be accessible on-line. Only social workers who have satisfied the Board that they hold an approved qualification and are “fit and proper” to engage in the practice of the profession will be entered on the register.
Social Workers applying for registration must satisfy the Board that they: have been engaged in the practice of the profession during the required period; hold the relevant qualifications or have successfully completed a test of competency; and can be deemed fit and proper to practise the profession.
As part of this application process, copies of documents must be certified by any of the following: practising solicitor, notary public, commissioner for oaths or peace commissioner. Certifying these documents permits the applicant to retain their original copies. This would represent the usual practice in this regard.
There are currently 243 social workers on the register. An additional 600 applicants have applied in recent weeks and this figure is growing daily as the deadline for registration approaches. People may complete the application form and pay on-line.
Social workers who apply by 31 May may continue to practise using the title 'social worker' while their application is being processed. A person's name will be entered on to the Register once the above criteria are met.
