Beyond Reproach? The Impact of Regulation on Professional Practice and Conduct

1. Beyond Reproach? The Impact of Regulation on Professional Practice and Conduct Paul Webster – Education and Inspection Manager - GSCC Ian Johnston - Chief Executive - BASW SSRG Annual Workshop Joining Up Locally: Partnerships for better Practice and Performance 17th April 2007 - Leicester

2. About BASW A professional association – not a trade union 37 years old - 11,300 members Collectively committed to values and principles Code of ethics since 1973 Campaigned for independent - not self-regulation Protection of title for qualified social workers An inclusive register for the social care workforce Great expectations!!!!

3. Our impact on the care sector since 2002 • Codes - 2 million copies of the codes for employers and workers distributed and liked by the sector • Conduct - we have had over 700 individual social workers referred to us; over 50 investigations(10 proceeded with) ; 9 concluded conduct hearings; 6 admonitions; 1 suspension and 2 removals • Register – The Social Care Register currently has almost 77,000 social workers, and almost 15000 social work students. www.gscc.org.uk

4. Next groups to register • The GSCC is now looking to open the register to other social care workers after registering social workers. The next phase is: • All domiciliary care workers and their managers in the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) regulatory framework should be in the next groups to be registered • It is proposed that the Social Care Register will be opened to this next group of social care workers early 2008 • The task of registering an estimated 200,000 workers will not be easy www.gscc.org.uk

5. Education and training: qualifying • Over 70 universities approved to run degree courses and new ones still applying • 120 degree courses part time, full time, college or employment based, at undergraduate and post graduate level • Annual intake of @5500 students www.gscc.org.uk

6. Post qualifying training New PQ framework and new standards and requirements published for • Children, young people, families and carers • Leadership and management • Practice education • Social work with adults Mental health requirements ( including approved social workers and approved mental health professionals) www.gscc.org.uk

7. Impact on performance and service delivery • GSCC primary role is protection of the public; and promoting • Public confidence in the social care sector; through • A national transparent system of accountability ; for whistleblowing • Designed to enhance and build professional reputation, credibility, standing BUT

8. Measurement of standards • How does one measure impact on standards other than registration refusals and conduct outcomes ? • How does one measure the impact of new training? • Do the Codes and registration influence attitudes, behaviour and performance? • How do employers use the Codes for workforce training, development and disciplining? • What should the relationship be between BASW’s Code of Ethics and the Codes of Practice?

9. Moral and ethical issues • The GSCC Code for employees has 41 prescriptions or injunctions • What constitutes a breach? • Where does being of ‘good character’ come into this? • Are there any legitimate boundaries between private and public life? • How might the employer (and the employer code) be implicated in a worker’s misconduct? • How can we ensure that decisions are proportionate and fair and that they reflect our values?