Amongst the tumbling portals of the NHS and the scourging of vulnerable people by the ConDem government, today sees the publication of a strong campaigning tool for disabled people by the Health and Social Care Professions Council (the replacement for the General Social Care Council).
The tool is the formal standards which, from August 1st this year, social workers have to follow to keep their registration to practice. These standards are far stricter than the Codes of Practice which were previously issued by the General Social Care Council and some local authorities will not be able to get away with the disgraceful levels of child and adult social care they have been practising (I am of the opinion that Norfolk County Council falls into this category).
You will see these standards place the onus to conform squarely on the shoulders of the individual professional. So how, you may ask, can the employing authority be held accountable for the standards. The simple answer is they can’t, but put yourself in the position of the individual professional threatened with being struck off for not complying with their professional standards because their ability to do so is controlled by the policies or financial stringencies of their employer...
And because of that question I’ve included the following text from the introduction to the new standards:
We often receive questions from registrants who are concerned that something they have been asked to do, a policy, or the way in which they work might mean they cannot meet our standards. They are often worried that this might have an effect on their registration.
As an autonomous professional, you need to make informed, reasoned decisions about your practice to ensure that you meet the standards that apply to you. This includes seeking advice and support from education providers, employers, colleagues, professional bodies, unions and others to ensure that the wellbeing of service users is safeguarded at all times. So long as you do this and can justify your decisions if asked to, it is very unlikely that you will not meet our standards.
Standards of proficiency – Social workers in England
Registrant social workers must:
1 be able to practise safely and effectively within their scope of practice
1.1 know the limits of their practice and when to seek advice or refer to another professional
1.2 recognise the need to manage their own workload and resources and be able to practise accordingly
1.3 be able to undertake assessments of risk, need and capacity and respond appropriately
1.4 be able to recognise and respond appropriately to unexpected situations and manage uncertainty
1.5 be able to recognise signs of harm, abuse and neglect and know how to respond appropriately
2 be able to practise within the legal and ethical boundaries of their profession
2.1 understand current legislation applicable to the work of their profession
2.2 understand the need to promote the best interests of service users and carers at all times
2.3 understand the need to protect, safeguard and promote the wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults
2.4 understand the need to address practices which present a risk to or from service users and carers, or others
2.5 be able to manage competing or conflicting interests
2.6 be able to exercise authority as a social worker within the appropriate legal and ethical frameworks
2.7 understand the need to respect and uphold the rights, dignity, values and autonomy of every service user and carer
2.8 recognise that relationships with service users and carers should be based on respect and honesty
2.9 recognise the power dynamics in relationships with service users and carers and be able to manage those dynamics appropriately
2.10 understand what is required of them by the Health and Care Professions Council
3. be able to maintain fitness to practise
3.1 understand the need to maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct
3.2 understand the importance of maintaining their own health and wellbeing
3.3 understand both the need to keep skills and knowledge up-to-date and the importance of career-long learning
3.4 be able to establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries
3.5 be able to manage the physical and emotional impact of their practice
4 be able to practise as an autonomous professional, exercising their own professional judgement
4.1 be able to assess a situation, determine its nature and severity and call upon the required knowledge and experience to deal with it
4.2 be able to initiate resolution of issues and be able to exercise personal initiative
4.3 recognise that they are personally responsible for, and must be able to justify, their decisions and recommendations
4.4 be able to make informed judgements on complex issues using the information available
4.5 be able to make and receive referrals appropriately
5 be aware of the impact of culture, equality and diversity on practice
5.1 be able to reflect on and take account of the impact of inequality, disadvantage and discrimination on those who use social work services and their communities
5.2 understand the need to adapt practice to respond appropriately to different groups and individuals
5.3 be aware of the impact of their own values on practice with different groups of service users and carers
5.4 understand the impact of different cultures and communities and how this affects the role of the social worker in supporting service users and carers
6 be able to practise in a non-discriminatory manner
6.1 be able to work with others to promote social justice, equality and inclusion
6.2 be able to use practice to challenge and address the impact of discrimination, disadvantage and oppression
7 be able to maintain confidentiality
7.1 be able to understand and explain the limits of confidentiality
7.2 be able to recognise and respond appropriately to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users and carers or others
8 be able to communicate effectively
8.1 be able to use interpersonal skills and appropriate forms of verbal and non-verbal communication with service users, carers and others
8.2 be able to demonstrate effective and appropriate skills in communicating advice, instruction, information and professional opinion to colleagues, service users and carers
8.3 understand the need to provide service users and carers with the information necessary to enable them to make informed decisions or to understand the decisions made
8.4 understand how communication skills affect the assessment of and engagement with service users and carers
8.5 understand how the means of communication should be modified to address and take account of a range of factors including age, capacity, learning ability and physical ability
8.6 be aware of the characteristics and consequences of verbal and non-verbal communication and how this can be affected by a range of factors including age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs and socio-economic status
8.7 understand the need to draw upon available resources and services to support service users’ and carers’ communication, wherever possible
8.8 be able to communicate in English to the standard equivalent to level 7 of the International English Language Testing System, with no element below 6.51 (The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests competence in the English language. Applicants who have qualified outside of the UK, whose first language is not English and who are not nationals of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, must provide evidence that they have reached the necessary standard. Please visit our website for more information).
8.9 be able to engage in inter-professional and inter-agency communication
8.10 be able to listen actively to service users and carers and others
8.11 be able to prepare and present formal reports in line with applicable protocols and guidelines
9 be able to work appropriately with others
9.1 understand the need to build and sustain professional relationships with service users, carers and colleagues as both an autonomous practitioner and collaboratively with others
9.2 be able to work with service users and carers to enable them to assess and make informed decisions about their needs, circumstances, risks, preferred options and resources
9.3 be able to work with service users and carers to promote individual growth, development and independence and to assist them to understand and exercise their rights
9.4 be able to support service users’ and carers’ rights to control their lives and make informed choices about the services they receive
9.5 be able to support the development of networks, groups and communities to meet needs and outcomes
9.6 be able to work in partnership with others, including those working in other agencies and roles
9.7 be able to contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team
9.8 recognise the contribution that service users’ and carers’ own resources and strengths can bring to social work
9.9 be able to work with resistance and conflict
9.10 be able to understand the emotional dynamics of interactions with service users and carers
10 be able to maintain records appropriately
10.1 be able to keep accurate, comprehensive and comprehensible records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines
10.2 recognise the need to manage records and all other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines
11 be able to reflect on and review practice
11.1 understand the value of critical reflection on practice and the need to record the outcome of such reflection appropriately
11.2 recognise the value of supervision, case reviews and other methods of reflection and review
12 be able to assure the quality of their practice
12.1 be able to use supervision to support and enhance the quality of their social work practice
12.2 be able to contribute to processes designed to evaluate service and individual outcomes
12.3 be able to engage in evidence-informed practice, evaluate practice systematically and participate in audit procedures
13 understand the key concepts of the knowledge base relevant to their profession
13.1 recognise the roles of other professions, practitioners and organisations
13.2 be aware of the different social and organisational contexts and settings within which social work operates
13.3 be aware of changes in demography and culture and their impact on social work
13.4 understand in relation to social work practice:
14.1 be able to gather, analyse, critically evaluate and use information and knowledge to make recommendations or modify their practice
14.2 be able to select and use appropriate assessment tools
14.3 be able to prepare, implement, review, evaluate, revise and conclude plans to meet needs and circumstances in conjunction with service users and carers
14.4 be able to use social work methods, theories and models to achieve change and development and improve life opportunities
14.5 be aware of a range of research methodologies
14.6 recognise the value of research and analysis and be able to evaluate such evidence to inform their own practice
14.7 be able to demonstrate a level of skill in the use of information technology appropriate to their practice
14.8 be able to change their practice as needed to take account of new developments or changing contexts
15 be able to establish and maintain a safe practice environment
15.1 understand the need to maintain the safety of service users, carers and colleagues
15.2 be aware of applicable health and safety legislation and any relevant safety policies and procedures in force at the workplace, such as incident reporting, and be able to act in accordance with these
15.3 be able to work safely in challenging environments, including being able to take appropriate actions to manage environmental risk
The tool is the formal standards which, from August 1st this year, social workers have to follow to keep their registration to practice. These standards are far stricter than the Codes of Practice which were previously issued by the General Social Care Council and some local authorities will not be able to get away with the disgraceful levels of child and adult social care they have been practising (I am of the opinion that Norfolk County Council falls into this category).
You will see these standards place the onus to conform squarely on the shoulders of the individual professional. So how, you may ask, can the employing authority be held accountable for the standards. The simple answer is they can’t, but put yourself in the position of the individual professional threatened with being struck off for not complying with their professional standards because their ability to do so is controlled by the policies or financial stringencies of their employer...
And because of that question I’ve included the following text from the introduction to the new standards:
We often receive questions from registrants who are concerned that something they have been asked to do, a policy, or the way in which they work might mean they cannot meet our standards. They are often worried that this might have an effect on their registration.
As an autonomous professional, you need to make informed, reasoned decisions about your practice to ensure that you meet the standards that apply to you. This includes seeking advice and support from education providers, employers, colleagues, professional bodies, unions and others to ensure that the wellbeing of service users is safeguarded at all times. So long as you do this and can justify your decisions if asked to, it is very unlikely that you will not meet our standards.
Standards of proficiency – Social workers in England
Registrant social workers must:
1 be able to practise safely and effectively within their scope of practice
1.1 know the limits of their practice and when to seek advice or refer to another professional
1.2 recognise the need to manage their own workload and resources and be able to practise accordingly
1.3 be able to undertake assessments of risk, need and capacity and respond appropriately
1.4 be able to recognise and respond appropriately to unexpected situations and manage uncertainty
1.5 be able to recognise signs of harm, abuse and neglect and know how to respond appropriately
2 be able to practise within the legal and ethical boundaries of their profession
2.1 understand current legislation applicable to the work of their profession
2.2 understand the need to promote the best interests of service users and carers at all times
2.3 understand the need to protect, safeguard and promote the wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults
2.4 understand the need to address practices which present a risk to or from service users and carers, or others
2.5 be able to manage competing or conflicting interests
2.6 be able to exercise authority as a social worker within the appropriate legal and ethical frameworks
2.7 understand the need to respect and uphold the rights, dignity, values and autonomy of every service user and carer
2.8 recognise that relationships with service users and carers should be based on respect and honesty
2.9 recognise the power dynamics in relationships with service users and carers and be able to manage those dynamics appropriately
2.10 understand what is required of them by the Health and Care Professions Council
3. be able to maintain fitness to practise
3.1 understand the need to maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct
3.2 understand the importance of maintaining their own health and wellbeing
3.3 understand both the need to keep skills and knowledge up-to-date and the importance of career-long learning
3.4 be able to establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries
3.5 be able to manage the physical and emotional impact of their practice
4 be able to practise as an autonomous professional, exercising their own professional judgement
4.1 be able to assess a situation, determine its nature and severity and call upon the required knowledge and experience to deal with it
4.2 be able to initiate resolution of issues and be able to exercise personal initiative
4.3 recognise that they are personally responsible for, and must be able to justify, their decisions and recommendations
4.4 be able to make informed judgements on complex issues using the information available
4.5 be able to make and receive referrals appropriately
5 be aware of the impact of culture, equality and diversity on practice
5.1 be able to reflect on and take account of the impact of inequality, disadvantage and discrimination on those who use social work services and their communities
5.2 understand the need to adapt practice to respond appropriately to different groups and individuals
5.3 be aware of the impact of their own values on practice with different groups of service users and carers
5.4 understand the impact of different cultures and communities and how this affects the role of the social worker in supporting service users and carers
6 be able to practise in a non-discriminatory manner
6.1 be able to work with others to promote social justice, equality and inclusion
6.2 be able to use practice to challenge and address the impact of discrimination, disadvantage and oppression
7 be able to maintain confidentiality
7.1 be able to understand and explain the limits of confidentiality
7.2 be able to recognise and respond appropriately to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users and carers or others
8 be able to communicate effectively
8.1 be able to use interpersonal skills and appropriate forms of verbal and non-verbal communication with service users, carers and others
8.2 be able to demonstrate effective and appropriate skills in communicating advice, instruction, information and professional opinion to colleagues, service users and carers
8.3 understand the need to provide service users and carers with the information necessary to enable them to make informed decisions or to understand the decisions made
8.4 understand how communication skills affect the assessment of and engagement with service users and carers
8.5 understand how the means of communication should be modified to address and take account of a range of factors including age, capacity, learning ability and physical ability
8.6 be aware of the characteristics and consequences of verbal and non-verbal communication and how this can be affected by a range of factors including age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs and socio-economic status
8.7 understand the need to draw upon available resources and services to support service users’ and carers’ communication, wherever possible
8.8 be able to communicate in English to the standard equivalent to level 7 of the International English Language Testing System, with no element below 6.51 (The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests competence in the English language. Applicants who have qualified outside of the UK, whose first language is not English and who are not nationals of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, must provide evidence that they have reached the necessary standard. Please visit our website for more information).
8.9 be able to engage in inter-professional and inter-agency communication
8.10 be able to listen actively to service users and carers and others
8.11 be able to prepare and present formal reports in line with applicable protocols and guidelines
9 be able to work appropriately with others
9.1 understand the need to build and sustain professional relationships with service users, carers and colleagues as both an autonomous practitioner and collaboratively with others
9.2 be able to work with service users and carers to enable them to assess and make informed decisions about their needs, circumstances, risks, preferred options and resources
9.3 be able to work with service users and carers to promote individual growth, development and independence and to assist them to understand and exercise their rights
9.4 be able to support service users’ and carers’ rights to control their lives and make informed choices about the services they receive
9.5 be able to support the development of networks, groups and communities to meet needs and outcomes
9.6 be able to work in partnership with others, including those working in other agencies and roles
9.7 be able to contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team
9.8 recognise the contribution that service users’ and carers’ own resources and strengths can bring to social work
9.9 be able to work with resistance and conflict
9.10 be able to understand the emotional dynamics of interactions with service users and carers
10 be able to maintain records appropriately
10.1 be able to keep accurate, comprehensive and comprehensible records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines
10.2 recognise the need to manage records and all other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines
11 be able to reflect on and review practice
11.1 understand the value of critical reflection on practice and the need to record the outcome of such reflection appropriately
11.2 recognise the value of supervision, case reviews and other methods of reflection and review
12 be able to assure the quality of their practice
12.1 be able to use supervision to support and enhance the quality of their social work practice
12.2 be able to contribute to processes designed to evaluate service and individual outcomes
12.3 be able to engage in evidence-informed practice, evaluate practice systematically and participate in audit procedures
13 understand the key concepts of the knowledge base relevant to their profession
13.1 recognise the roles of other professions, practitioners and organisations
13.2 be aware of the different social and organisational contexts and settings within which social work operates
13.3 be aware of changes in demography and culture and their impact on social work
13.4 understand in relation to social work practice:
- social work theory;
- social work models and interventions;
- the development and application of relevant law and social policy;
- the development and application of social work and social work values;
- human growth and development across the lifespan and the impact of key developmental stages and transitions;
- the impact of injustice, social inequalities, policies and other issues which affect the demand for social work services;
- the relevance of psychological, environmental, sociological and physiological perspectives to understanding personal and social development and functioning;
- concepts of participation, advocacy and empowerment; and
- the relevance of sociological perspectives to understanding societal and structural influences on human behaviour
14.1 be able to gather, analyse, critically evaluate and use information and knowledge to make recommendations or modify their practice
14.2 be able to select and use appropriate assessment tools
14.3 be able to prepare, implement, review, evaluate, revise and conclude plans to meet needs and circumstances in conjunction with service users and carers
14.4 be able to use social work methods, theories and models to achieve change and development and improve life opportunities
14.5 be aware of a range of research methodologies
14.6 recognise the value of research and analysis and be able to evaluate such evidence to inform their own practice
14.7 be able to demonstrate a level of skill in the use of information technology appropriate to their practice
14.8 be able to change their practice as needed to take account of new developments or changing contexts
15 be able to establish and maintain a safe practice environment
15.1 understand the need to maintain the safety of service users, carers and colleagues
15.2 be aware of applicable health and safety legislation and any relevant safety policies and procedures in force at the workplace, such as incident reporting, and be able to act in accordance with these
15.3 be able to work safely in challenging environments, including being able to take appropriate actions to manage environmental risk
Comments