The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council) marks its 25th anniversary this month, reflecting on 25 years of professional regulation and on the contribution of the social work and social care workforce it supports.
The Social Care Council was established on 1 October 2001 with a single overarching mission – to protect the public by registering, regulating and supporting the development of a skilled and professional social work and social care workforce. Twenty-five years on, that mission remains as important as ever.
What began with approximately 15 members of staff and a voluntary registration scheme has grown alongside the profession itself, into a Public Facing Register of nearly 50,000 social workers, social care managers, social care practitioners and social work students.
Over the past 25 years, the Social Care Council has introduced a number of firsts for the sector, including the first mandatory Assessed Year in Employment for newly qualified social workers in the UK, and the first registration scheme for social care practitioners in the UK and Europe. Its workforce development work has also been recognised internationally, including through a number of European Social Services Awards.
Health Minister Robbie Butler, said:
“For 25 years, the Social Care Council has played a vital public service role and continues to support a workforce that carries out some of the most demanding and important work in our society. I want to pay tribute to the thousands of social workers, social care managers and social care practitioners across Northern Ireland whose skill and dedication this anniversary reflects. As the Social Care Council looks ahead to its next chapter, I look forward to continuing to work with it to ensure social work and social care regulation in Northern Ireland remains effective, proportionate and fit for the future.”
Tracy Reid, Chief Executive of the Social Care Council, said:
“Reaching 25 years is a significant milestone, and I want to begin by saying thank you. Thank you to every social worker, social care manager, social care practitioner and social work student on our Register for the work you do that changes lives every single day. Thank you to all those, who through their work and vision in the Council, have built the organisation that we can be so proud of today.
“In 25 years, so much has changed. The Register has grown substantially, the complexity of care needs has increased, and the landscape for regulation has evolved. Our commitment to protecting the public, upholding standards and supporting the workforce has never wavered, and it will continue to guide us as we look to the next 25 years.”
Sean Holland CBE, Chair of the Social Care Council, said:
“Marking 25 years is an opportunity to recognise just how far the profession has come, and the people who have made that possible. It has been a privilege to see the Social Care Council develop alongside a workforce that continues to rise to new challenges every day. As we look to the future, our focus remains on working with registrants and partners to build a system of regulation that supports them to do their best work, safely and sustainably, for the next 25 years.”
To mark the anniversary, the Social Care Council has published a 25-year timeline of key milestones, and will run a social media campaign “25 in 25” featuring reflections on the story of social work and social care workforce regulation in Northern Ireland and the difference it makes – to be part of the conversation use the hashtag #SCC25Years.