Care workers face registration bill

Residential and home care staff might have to pay between £20 and £30 a year to be put on the social care register, under proposals out for consultation this week.

The General Social Care Council consultation, which follows last week’s government’s announcement on registering residential and home care staff (news, 9 February), also suggests unqualified care staff may need to complete induction training before registering.

While workers will not require a recognised qualification before registering, the GSCC suggests that registered workers should be trained to a “minimum” standard by employers.

It also proposes that registration for care workers should be renewed every six years on the grounds of the high turnover of staff in the residential and domiciliary care sector, claiming this would reduce costs for employers.

For social workers the renewal period is three years.