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Codes of practice for all social care workers and employers were published on Monday, writes David Brown.

Workers will have to abide by the codes or face being struck-off or suspended from a new professional register.

Registration of qualified social workers will begin next year, but it will take a decade to include all the estimated 1.2 million social care staff in the UK. The annual registration fee is expected to be between £20 and £30.

Employers must take the codes into account when making decisions about the conduct of staff. The four national social care councils will set up conduct committees to consider serious beaches of the codes of practice.

The National Care Standards Commission will require all staff and managers to comply with the codes as part of its inspection and enforcement of the national minimum standards.

The four regulatory social care councils in each of the countries in the UK have agreed to use the same codes of practice. However, each of the councils will operate its own register and regulatory system.

The code for workers is described as a "list of statements that describe the standards of professional conduct and practice required of social care workers as they go about their daily work".

It includes rules on the rights of users and carers, protecting service users, upholding the public trust and confidence in social care, and taking responsibility for maintaining and improving their own knowledge and skills.

Both codes protect the rights of workers to "whistleblow" on resource and operational difficulties that get in the way of delivering safe care.

Dr Jeremy Harbison, chairperson of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, said on behalf of the four national councils: "These codes set a clear benchmark. Building on the sound shared values of the profession and, coupled with registration, they will raise standards and increase public protection."

Owen Davies, national officer for social services for Unison, said the final codes addressed the union’s earlier concerns that the draft version had placed too many responsibilities on individual workers rather than employers.

Dick Clough, chief executive of the Social Care Association, said: "This is the one of the most important steps in making social care a profession. It is a vital part of regaining public confidence in social care."

You can download or order a copy of the code of practice issued by the General Social Care Council in England by clicking here