Below is a quick guide to regulatory requirements to support you during your time with the Social Care Council.
1. Register with the Social Care Council and maintain your registration
All social care workers and social workers must be registered with the Social Care Council to work/practise in the social care sector.
All registrants must pay an annual registration fee to maintain their registration. All registrants must ensure their personal and employment details are up to date an advise of any change of circumstance.
2. Work to the Standards of Conduct and Practice
It is important that all registrants know and work to the Standards of Conduct and Practice.
The Standards describe the values, attitudes and behaviours expected of registrants in their day to day work and outline the knowledge and skills required for competent practice.
Find the Standards of Conduct and Practice in our Associated Resources.
3. Undertake and record Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL)
All registered social care workers and social workers must undertake 90 hours of learning and development (PRTL) during their period of registration to provide evidence that they have met the Social Care Council’s Standards of Conduct and Practice.
4. Renew your registration
Social Workers and Social Care Managers are required to renew their registration every 3 years.
Social Care Workers are required to renew their registration every 5 years.
All registrants must pay a registration renewal fee when they renew their registration.
I Require Voluntary Removal from the Register
If you leave the social care workforce permanently you should update your employment information via your online portal account and request voluntary removal from the Register. This will end your registration and will also ensure that should you need to Register again in future, you will not be subject to payment of any fees which were outstanding at the time of removal.
It may also be appropriate for you to apply for voluntary removal from the Register if you are taking a break from working in social care for a prolonged period of time; perhaps you are off work due to long term illness, have taken a career break or whilst on maternity leave.
If you are considering voluntary removal whilst still employed, we would advise you to check with your employer if this will be appropriate for you in your circumstances. Qualified Social Workers who are technically still employed during maternity leave or whilst on a career break, may be required to maintain their registration in order to comply with the terms of their employment. Qualified Social Workers who are registered subject to conditions ie Assessed Year in Employment (AYE) or to completing PiP (Professional in Practice) requirements, will have the remaining duration of these compliances reinstated upon return to the Register following a period of removal.
It will be the responsibility of any social care worker or social worker to ensure that they re-apply and are confirmed as registered again before returning to work following a period of removal from the Register.
Please allow 4-6 weeks for the processing of a new application which will carry the standard fee for the Register part to which you are applying.
Voluntary removal may be applied for via your online portal account at ‘Request Removal from the Register’ or by emailing your request to: registration@niscc.hscni.net