The GSCC registers students because they can be placed in frontline teams within weeks of beginning a course. But in a couple of years social work regulation is going to transfer to the Health Professions Council, and the HPC argues that registration is unnecessary. It bases this conclusion on a report by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, which said there was "insufficient evidence to suggest registration of students is necessary to protect the public ". Instead the HPC asks universities to monitor the behaviour of their students. What do people think - should students have to register?
As a social work student myself i do believe it is necessary for students to be regisetered with the GSCC, however registration only works if universities and practice placements report any concerns regarding a students suitability to practice with them.
I have become made aware of two students on different degree programmes to myself, becoming physically and emotionally involved with SU's they have been supporting whilst on placement. One of these is now qualified and working as a social worker and is currently living with the SU she met whilst on placement, the other one as far as i'm aware is currently being investigated by the university after a fellow student made three complaints to the department and isisted that something was done about it.
I personally believe that students who begin relationships with SU during practice placements should not be allowed to qualify as surely this is an abuse of power as these people are vulnerable. I fear that both the current system and any future one that does not involve universities/practice placements airing concerns about a students suitability to practice with the regulatory body will result in even more negative press and public attention.
"one of these is now qualified and working as a social worker and is currently living with the SU she met whilst on placement"
What?! Do the GSCC know? Given that staying in touch with previous SUs by occassional text is frowned upon im suprised this person has got away with shacking up with a former SU.
As far as i'm aware the unversity did not notify the GSCC and it was simply brushed under the carpet so to say. I have never met the person in question and only know her first name but was informed of this whilst on placement at the agency where she met the SU a yr or 2 before. Both SU's and staff at the agency are aware of their ongoing relationship and its a regular topic of conversation.
Matleo, that's appalling- and what on earth is the agency doing, not reporting it themselves to the GSCC????
But yes, students should be registered, as we do direct work alone with service users in a way which other health students don't seem to. Due to this we have the same opportunities to abuse our position of trust if we so wished as a qualified worker, and therefore should be subject to the same system of registration and regulation.
The agency is a volutary ogranisation so i dont even think they are aware of the registration procedures, they also have no qualified social workers in the team. My placement only lasted 4 weeks as I had a number of disagreements with the project manager who seemed to take a dislike to me from the start as i have previous work experience. I believe this simply adds weight to the arguement for more appropriate statutory placements for SW students.
II don't think there is any value whatsoever in registration so long as LA's provide PQ education and training. Also, managers will need more support to monitor practice and ensure standards. I'm all for BASW taking the lead on an alternative role. I don't think registration protects the public at all. It simply confuses matters.
I am quite shocked at this. Perhaps it is because I know no different. However, universities have the responsibility of carrying out fitness to practice procedures anyway and deal with day to day conduct so I don't really know what the Chief of HPC is getting at. I am all [ok, not all] for transferring the functions of the GSCC however this is disappointing if the person in charge cannot see the reasons why students should be registered. As I student, I see that by entering a profession such as social work we should immediatly become accountable for our practice and be subject to the same regulations as qualified social workers. If it was solely down to universities, then there is nothing stopping a student who has been suspended from their course from applying to another university. When at present I am sure that this wouldn't be able to happen if the GSCC have removed someone from whichever section of the social care register. For service users, they have the right to complain about their worker to the regulatory body and to almost take this away would surely be quite disresepctful towards them. I think that the codes of practice set out clearly [yes obvious stuff to most of us] how we must conduct ourselves both inside and outside of 'social work' and if they want to build a profession that is to be proud of, I think it is important that this is started as soon as someone embarks on the degree.
Having heard things myself as a student [admitedly not at my university], I wouldn't want to put that responsibility onto universities [to take complete control over students in terms of conduct] as I do not think issues will be dealt with appropriately. Also the GSCC offer us protection as well... particularly in terms of our practice assessors and the quality of our degree, but I wonder if we would still get this if we were not registered- but thats a little off topic. But yes, student registration is essential in terms of public protection and creates a transparent profession where the same rules apply despite status or job role. Although, what they could do is scrap the idea that we must CONSTANTLY write about the codes of practice as this gets very tedious :)