19/04/04 - Cumbrian Social Workers join first ever National Register

As part of a major drive for high standards of care, Cumbria social workers are joining the first ever national register of social care workers.  Over the next few weeks, qualified social workers will be invited to join the register, opened by social care workforce watchdog the General Social Care Council. (GSCC) 

County Councillor John Mallinson, Cabinet spokesman for Care and Social Services is delighted to support the pioneering initiative.  He says, 

"Registration is a significant step forward in public protection, and I am delighted Cumbria Social Services is taking a lead in this important area. The people who receive services from Cumbria Social Services each year, and their carers, can be confident that they can depend on a trained and trusted workforce, while our social care staff will receive the professional recognition they deserve.  Registration builds on other workforce initiatives we have in place to ensure our social care staff are well trained and provide quality services." 

Lynne Berry, Chief Executive of the GSCC, welcomed the start of registration in Cumbria saying,

“Joining the register is a clear statement of commitment to high standards and the protection of service users. We’re very pleased that Cumbria County Council has given this commitment to both their staff and the people who depend on their staff for support. We look forward to working with them to build up the register.” 

The register will reassure the public that the social care workforce is properly regulated: that the people providing care have appropriate training and qualifications andare suitable to carry out social care work. It will help to improve the standing of the profession, putting social workers in Cumbria on a par with nurses, doctors and other professionals in the care sector.

Survey evidence indicates overwhelming public support for regulation of the social care workforce, with over 90 per cent of people questioned in a recent NOP poll confident it will deliver higher standards of care and improved protection. Registration will become a legal requirement for social workers to practice from April 2005.