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Report highlights cause for optimism about social work education

02 May 2024

The public can be assured social workers In Northern Ireland are educated and trained to provide consistent and safe support, through a new report published today by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council).

The report details the Social Care Council’s regulatory activity in relation to social work education and training of the social care workforce during 2022-23 and is structured around three main areas, supporting and developing the social work workforce, the professional development framework for social workers (Professional in Practice (PiP), and regulation of the social work workforce. It also reflects on developments within the profession and the challenges social workers are facing.

Social Care Council Chief Executive, Patricia Higgins believes the report should give the public confidence in the profession.

She said: “This report gives a unique overview of how social workers in Northern Ireland are educated, trained and regulated.

“As the regulator we are assured that social workers are being trained to a high standard with the knowledge, skills and values to meet their professional standards, to ensure safe and effective practice. We have to thank our education and training partners for ensuring that is the case”

The report has been published by the Social Care Council, the body responsible for regulation of all 6,628 social workers, and the regulation of the education and training courses available in Northern Ireland to become a registered social worker.

Want to know more? 

The Social Care Council’s report on the regulation of social work education and training in Northern Ireland can be viewed on the website – https://niscc.info/accountability-reports/

For more information:

Rita McCullagh, Head of Strategic Communications and Engagement

Rita.mccullagh@niscc.hscni.net

07874682049