Policies

As well as being a regulator, the GSCC contributes to development of public policy in social care and regulation by issuing briefings, participating in public consultations and reviewing its policies.

Policy reviews

Review of codes of practice
The GSCC's Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers and for Employers of Social Care Workers set out standards of conduct expected of care workers and standards and responsibilities of their employers. The GSCC is keen to ensure that the codes are fit for purpose and that they continue to ensure that people who use services can expect the highest standards from their workers The codes were initially evaluated in 2004. In 2007 the GSCC and its UK partners commissioned further research among people who use services, social care workers and their employers. The research was designed to find out how the codes of practice are being used by employers and workers across the UK, if the codes needed to be supplemented by additional guidance and if people who used services were aware of the codes. The evaluation is expected to be completed before the end of 2008.

Guidance on professional boundaries for social care workers
In January 2008 the GSCC announced a review of professional boundaries between social care workers and their clients. Codes of practice for social care workers stipulate that social care workers must not 'form inappropriate personal relationships with service users' (5.4). The initial assessment of conduct hearings held by the GSCC showed that a high proportion of these involved inappropriate relationships between social workers and service users. Registrants who attended the GSCC annual conference in May 2008 expressed their support for review of professional boundaries, stating that there was a lack of clear and consistent guidance on professional boundaries from employers.

The review of professional boundaries will be done jointly with key stakeholders including the charity Witness, which represents people who have been harmed by health and care workers.

Briefings on legislation

Most recent briefings:

Health and Social Care Act 2008:
The Act established the joint health and social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission, responsible for regulation and registration of certain health and social care service providers.

House of Lords, Grand Committee

Children and Young Persons Bill:
Bill to reform the statutory framework for the care system, to ensure that children and young people receive high quality care and support and to drive improvements in the delivery of services focused on the needs of the child.

House of Commons, 2nd Reading
House of Lords, Report

Consultations:

GSCC consultation: regulation of personal assistants

GSCC consultation: Post-Registration Training and Learning

GSCC consultation: Single Equality Scheme

Consultation responses

GSCC response to Putting People First: Working to Make it Happen

GSCC response to the DH consultation on the framework for the registration of health and adult social care providers

GSCC response to the CWDC consultation: NQSW Outcome Statements and Guidance

Speeches:

Mike Wardle, CEO, GSCC - 6 May 2008, GSCC Annual Conference

Ivan Lewis MP, Care Services Minister - 6 May 2008, GSCC Annual Conference