Concerns over registration of workforce

Thousands of social workers could find themselves unable to work
come next April because they have failed to register with the
General Social Care Council in time.

However, councils and the GSCC are blaming each other for the
situation.

With the deadline for applications just five weeks away, GSCC
figures published last month show only one-third of the 44,000
eligible social workers have either registered or sent in
applications.

Local authorities blame the GSCC for failing to send application
forms to them quickly enough and to explain effectively the need to
stagger applications.

But some councils claim higher registration rates or fewer
workers than GSCC estimates.

A statement from Rotherham said it had registered a quarter of
its 309 eligible staff – not 1.8 per cent of 840 staff, as
reported by the GSCC. Leicester said it had applied for or
registered 75 per cent of its 415 staff, not 6.5 per cent.

Wayne Coombe, head of human resources at Staffordshire, said
that, although it had applied for or registered only four of its
662 social workers, it had liaised with the GSCC over a
“managed process” to registration and was confident of
meeting the deadline. 

Worcestershire blamed its showing – only eight of its 425
staff have registered or applied – on the fact that it had
received forms only six weeks ago.

Even Hampshire, which piloted registration last year, found it a
struggle and one-third of applications are still outstanding.