The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council) will shortly be under new leadership as Tracy Reid takes up a new role as Chief Executive) from 1 September 2025.
The Social Care Council is responsible for:
- maintaining a register of social workers and social care workers in Northern Ireland
- setting standards for social workers and social care workers for their conduct, training and practice, and
- setting standards for and regulating social work education and training in Northern Ireland.
There are currently over 49,000 social workers and social care workers on the Public Facing Register in Northern Ireland.
Tracy will lead the Social Care Council in delivering system leadership across the social work and social care sector, supporting the Department of Health in delivering real and effective change and reform in social work and social care.
Ms Reid qualified as a social worker in 2001, and has held a senior leadership position as Interim Executive Director of Social Work for the Belfast Trust since August 2022. Prior to this she had worked within Belfast Trust since 2005, working across a number of areas of social work practice, including children’s services, hospital social work, palliative care, disability services, older people’s services and adult safeguarding.
Confirming the appointment, Gerry Guckian, Acting Chair, Social Care Council said:
“We are very excited to welcome Tracy to the Social Care Council, with all the new opportunities that await her. I congratulate her on being appointed to this very important position, where she will be tasked with the vital job of upholding compliance with standards and promoting continuous learning and development for the social work and social care professions, all to support the very best outcomes for people who use services, their families and carers.”
Mr Guckian also thanked Declan McAllister, Director of Registration and Corporate Services who had stepped into the role of Interim Chief Executive in recent months.
“As Interim Chief Executive Declan has been instrumental over the past ten months in providing strong and steady leadership for the Board, the Social Care Council and the social work and social care sectors, while taking forward a wide range of important reform initiatives. On behalf of the Board and all members of staff I would like to thank Declan for his dedication and unwavering commitment to the Social Care Council.”
Aine Morrison, Chief Social Worker, Department of Health said:
“Tracy’s compassion, support and understanding, both for those who use services, and for those who work in the social work and social care professions, have always been evident. She is dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable and improving the quality of people’s lives and will bring this commitment to the leadership of the Social Care Council. On behalf of the Department, I wish her all the best in this endeavour, and look forward to working with her as we implement our strategic vision for social work and social care, which includes strong but supportive regulation.”
Notes to editor
- The Social Care Council is the regulator for social workers and social care practitioners in Northern Ireland. It is a public body established by the Department of Health to support high quality standards of social work and social care.
- The Social Care Council’s Standards of Conduct and Practice form the core regulatory framework for the social work and social care workforce.
- The Social Care Council currently has over 49,000 registrants, and make up the largest health and social care workforce in Northern Ireland.
For more information
Rita McCullagh,
Head of Strategic Communications and Engagement
Rita.mccullagh@niscc.hscni.net
07591 447804