4 August 2010
The Government has published a report which could see the Health Professions Council (HPC) taking on the regulation of social workers in England from the General Social Care Council (GSCC).
‘Liberating the NHS: Report of the arms-length bodies review’ has called for the GSCC in England to be abolished and for its regulatory function to be transferred to the HPC.
Currently the HPC is undertaking a similar exercise on a much smaller scale in relation to the Hearing Aid Council (HAC), which will be abolished at the end of the month.
The HPC assumed responsibility for the regulation of private sector hearing aid dispensers in April 2010.
Anna van der Gaag, Chair of HPC said:
“The HPC acknowledges the work that GSCC has done in regulating social workers in England and in bringing about changes to regulation which reflect changes in the wider world of social care. “
“We are committed to establishing good working relationships with the social work profession, employers, education providers, user groups and other stakeholders as well as our colleagues in the regulatory councils in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.”
Marc Seale, the Chief Executive and Registrar of the HPC commented:
“The HPC recognises the importance of the social work profession and we look forward to working collaboratively with the profession to deliver enhanced public protection and cost effective professional regulation across the health and social care sectors.”
“We will work closely with the Government departments, stakeholders and the GSCC to ensure a smooth transition and to welcome social workers into a multi professional regulatory body.”
The HPC is an independent UK-wide multi-profession regulator which currently regulates fifteen professions including dietitians, educational psychologists, occupational therapists, paramedics and physiotherapists.