Links

The GSCC is sponsored by the Department of Health but works closely with the Department for Children, Schools and Families, other regulators and sector skills councils.

Department of Health
www.dh.gov.uk
The Department of Health is the General Social Care Council’s sponsoring Government department. It has responsibility for matters relating to adult social care. Its website contains information about recent developments in social care, press releases and an extensive page of links to other useful social care sites.

Department for Children, Schools and Families
www.dcsf.gov.uk
The GSCC works closely with the DCSF in delivering the children’s and young people's care agenda.

UK Councils

Care Council for Wales
www.ccwales.org.uk
Care Council for Wales (CCW) is the General Social Care Council’s equivalent body in Wales.

Northern Ireland Social Care Council
www.niscc.info
Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) is the General Social Care Council’s equivalent body in Northern Ireland.

Scottish Social Services Council
www.sssc.uk.com
Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) is the General Social Care Council’s equivalent body in Scotland.

Regulators

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
Tel: 0845 0150 120
Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk
CSCI regulates provision of social care services for adults. This includes social services teams in local councils care homes and care agencies. The CSCI inspects and rates councils and care homes based on quality of care provision. It also runs a register of care providers. In January 2008 the CSCI was tasked with reviewing access to social care. It is expected to report to the Department of Health later this year. As of April 2009 the CSCI’s functions will be transferred to the new single health and adult social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Ofsted
Tel: 08456 404040
Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk
Since April 2007 Ofsted has been responsible for inspection and regulation of care for children and young people, and inspection of education and training for learners of all ages. It regulates children’s services, including children’s homes as well as adoption and fostering agencies and CAFCASS (the Children and Family Courts Advisory Service).

Sector Skills Councils:

Skills for Care
Tel: 0113 2451716
Email: info@skillsforcare.org.uk
Skills for Care was established in 2000 to promote and provide training to those employed in adult social care and it is responsible for overall coherence of social care training and workforce planning.

Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC)
Tel: 0113 244 6311
CWDC was set up in 2005 to support the implementation of the Every Child Matters Government agenda to improve skills of people working in childcare, social care, foster care and welfare of children, to lower staff shortages and to increase training.

Other partners:

Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
Tel: +44 (0)20 7089 6840
Email: info@scie.org.uk
SCIE is an independent charity funded by the Department of Health and the devolved assemblies. It was established in 2001 to identify, examine and disseminate good practice among social care workers.

CAFCASS
Tel: 020 7510 7000
CSCI’s functions will be transferred to the new single health and adult social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).