Press Release

Is Post-Registration Training and Learning doing its job?

25 January 2008

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) has begun a review of its arrangements for Post-Registration Training and Learning (PRTL).

Current arrangements mean that all social workers registered with the GSCC have to complete 90 hours or 15 days of relevant learning activity in each three year registration period and confirm details of this as part of the renewal process.

The GSCC is reviewing the current arrangements and deciding whether they are ‘fit for purpose’. The organisation wants to learn from the experience of social workers who have recently renewed their registration or who are about to do so. A paper setting out the issues that the council will want to consider before making this decision is on the GSCC website.

On the basis of the comments received and of other consultation meetings being held, a report will be made to the Council in March. The GSCC will then decide if current arrangements should continue or whether there is a need to embark on a major programme of change, to include an extensive formal public consultation.

Mike Wardle, Chief Executive of the GSCC, said:
“Some social workers will have just renewed their registration. Many more are in the course of doing so. We are keen to hear from registrants about their experiences while this is fresh in their minds.”

“At this stage we want to know if the PRTL scheme is working well enough or if it needs further development. We do not intend to embark on major change unless there is clear evidence that the current system is ‘unfit for purpose’. If that is what we conclude then we will consult all social workers on options for reform.”

The GSCC will also be holding focus groups with social workers next month, testing the opinions of stakeholders such as employers and service users and looking at similar policies in other regulators.

Anyone wishing to give their views on PRTL can do so by emailing prtl@gscc.org.uk or by writing to PRTL, Policy Development team, GSCC, Goldings House, 2 Hay’s Lane, London, SE1 2HB.