The Social Care Council’s Standards of Conduct and Practice form the core regulatory framework for the social work and social care workforce.
We regulate the workforce by maintaining a register and setting standards for the conduct, practice and training of social worker, social work students and social care practitioners to ensure that the quality of care provided to people who use services is of a high standard.
The Standards of Conduct and Practice 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. They provide a baseline against which a registrant’s conduct and practice will be judged.
We have a statutory responsibility to set and review standards for employers of social workers and social care practitioners. Together with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) we ensure adherence to the standards for employers within social care.
PDF versions of the Standards in various formats are available below.
Easy Read Standards are available below.
Safer recruitment and employment: guidance for social care employers
Employing a social worker: guidance for new employers
