Interim payments to cover late bursaries

The General Social Care Council is to issue provisional payments to
social work students following complaints about delays of
bursaries.

Students from Southampton University this week claimed they were
still waiting for payment for up to five weeks after the start of
their course, putting their places at risk.

One DipSW student told Community Care he had only received half of
his bursary more than a month into his course.

“Students are being fed inconsistent stories about when they will
be paid,” one student said. “I am missing out on valuable study
time by working to pay my living expenses.”

He added: “Customer service at the GSCC told me the influx of
students meant they were slow in keeping up. It seems they simply
can’t handle it.”

A GSCC spokesman admitted that bursaries were being finalised later
than planned this year. He said delays were due to payments being
dependent on universities’ confirmation of enrolment, and a backlog
of applications.

The GSCC is writing to social work students this week to inform
them about provisional payments.