Calling all Social Workers

we did every page on mine to make sure it was okay.  You could always copy it and write the part that doesn't involve signing her name for her and save the time.

we did every page on mine to make sure it was okay.  You could always copy it and write the part that doesn't involve signing her name for her and save the time.

Ah, I didn't even think of doing that!  Excellent idea.   

Thanks!

The GSCC are changing things up a bit.  It looks like they're raising the bar on the eligibility requirements:

Social workers trained and qualified outside the UK
 

There are many social workers currently working in England who trained and qualified outside the UK.

To practise within England all social workers need to be registered with the GSCC. If you are a social worker who has trained and qualified outside the UK, you will need to meet our criteria on qualifications, assessed practice, health and good character to register. We currently assess qualifications gained outside the UK against the UK Diploma in Social Work (DipSW). This will change to the degree in social work from 1 October 2008. Access more information on the new qualification equivalency, our assessment criteria.

To register up to the 1 October 2008 you will be required to complete an application form that has two parts, Part I and Part II.

    * Part I of the form requires you to provide personal and employment details.
    * Part II of the form will help establish whether your qualification meets the requirements of the DipSW.

Both parts must be completed before we can proceed with your application. You can find Part I and II of the application form and related guidance notes at the bottom of this page. You will also find detailed information relating to your current circumstances by accessing the links below.

Change to the equivalency assessment – effective from 1 October 2008

The degree in social work was introduced in England in 2003 as the entry for the social work profession, replacing the DipSW. The degree is now the dominant qualification held by those entering the profession in the UK. For acceptance onto the register we will be changing the qualification equivalency, our assessment criteria, for social workers trained and qualified outside the UK from the DipSW to the degree in social work. This change will come into effect from 1 October 2008.

The main changes to the equivalency assessment are:

    * raising the threshold of qualification in social work to degree standard; and
    * introducing a minimum period of 130 days of supervised and assessed practice as part of initial training or completed after qualification.

If your application to the register is received on or after the 1 October 2008 it will be assessed using the new equivalency. Depending on your circumstances this could mean that if your application arrives at the GSCC on or after the 1 October 2008, your qualification and training may be assessed as not equivalent and your application to join the register may be refused.

To find information relevant to your current circumstances, or to find out how the new equivalency assessment may affect you, please access the following.

    * Country assessment guidelines (for applications received before 1 October 2008)
    * Country assessment guidelines (for applications received from 1 October 2008)
    * I am a social worker trained and qualified outside the UK
    * I am a national of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland
    * New qualification equivalency effective from 1 October 2008 - Questions and answers

http://www.gscc.org.uk/The+Social+Care+Register/Apply+for+registration/Workers+from+abroad

I have yet to read the full details in all the links they have on the site, but on the surface, this change doesn't seem like it would prove problematic for US-trained social workers with appropriate, accredited social work degrees (BSW/MSW).  IIRC, less training was required for a DipSW than a BSW.

Anyway, just thought I'd give notice in case I'm not the only one around here who plans to apply for GSCC qualification in the near future (but after the equivalency changes).   

Thanks for the GSCC heads up.

For those social workers trained outside the UK, but going through the renewal process, I found this bit of information:

"If a registrant decided not to renew their registration and reapplied after 1 October 2008 would their qualification be assessed again and compared to the degree?

If a registrant with a social work qualification from outside the UK decided to voluntarily leave the register or not to renew their registration, a further equivalency assessment would not be necessary.

Once a qualification is recognised by the GSCC as meeting our equivalency criteria then there is no requirement for this to be assessed again."

http://www.gscc.org.uk/gscc/Templates/GenericContent.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2fThe%2bSocial%2bCare%2bRegister%2fApply%2bfor%2bregistration%2fWorkers%2bfrom%2babroad%2fNew%2bqualification%2bequivalency%2beffective%2bFAQ%2ehtm&NRNODEGUID=%7b9FC747EA-6A0C-4202-8CBC-3FD1A1AA4EC7%7d&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest#12

You're welcome.   Thanks for the renewal update, too!  I didn't even think to look there...

After browsing through the GSCC site for more updates, I have a question (surprise surprise  ).  Is this a new rule?

I have not yet completed my social work course. Can I apply before I qualify?
No – you can only apply after you have completed your course and you have evidence that you have qualified.  This can be your qualification certificate or transcript that clearly states you have been ‘AWARDED’ the qualification.

Because I swear I read in this thread that some people applied for GSCC a few months before graduation and were accepted on the condition that they provide proof of their credentials ASAP after being awarded their degree.     I had been planning on registering my future-MSW with the GSCC in January so that I could be ready to leave for the UK in June (I graduate in May).  But this tidbit puts a damper on that.  Unless I register with my BSW instead...

repeating again: BSW and MSW mean squat here.  I am just as qualified with all my MSW training as a BSW (even if I beg to differ).  It's a common mistake to think it will make a difference.  If you have a BSW from an accredited university, you can apply today.

I've been told many, many times that BSW and MSW are pretty much the same in the UK, and yet...I don't know why I can't get that into my head!  I think it's because I've so heavily indoctrinated into the whole US system of "MSW > BSW", and thinking that all the experience I'm getting in my MSW program (which is more field oriented), will look a whole lot more impressive to the world than the generalist education/field experience I received at the BSW level.

Sorry, Cadenza.  I'm trying to get better, honestly!

At least this makes everything a whole lot easier.  Had I not been so dense, I would've worked on the application a couple of months ago and applied over the summer.  Ah well.

I understood that American BSWs were unlikely to get DipSW equivalency under the pre 1st October 2008 requirements?

"If you hold a Bachelor degree in social work that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, these are assessed on an individual basis because of the generalist nature of some courses. You should provide a personal statement and supporting documentation about the content of the course, your supervised and assessed practice placements and any social work experience. You should also provide a suitably certified copy of your current or previous social worker state licence and your qualification certificate."

See http://www.gscc.org.uk/gscc/Templates/Anchor.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2fThe%2bSocial%2bCare%2bRegister%2fApply%2bfor%2bregistration%2fWorkers%2bfrom%2babroad%2fCountry%2bassessment%2bguidelines%2f&NRNODEGUID=%7b104FC2EB-E246-4E82-92FC-43623BE7B2F3%7d&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest#11

Under the post 1st October 2008 guidelines for equivalency with the British BA in Social Work, it now says:

"You can apply for registration as a social worker and are likely to meet our training requirements if you:


Hold a Masters or Bachelor degree in social work that is accredited by the American Council on Social Work Education (CSWE): http://www.cswe.org/CSWE/accreditation/
And

Have completed a minimum of 130 whole days in supervised and assessed social work practice, taking into account your training and relevant post-qualifying social work employment up until the date of your application. If you have completed less than 130 days, you should delay your application until you have reached this minimum period of employment in a social work role."

http://www.gscc.org.uk/gscc/Templates/Anchor.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2fThe%2bSocial%2bCare%2bRegister%2fApply%2bfor%2bregistration%2fWorkers%2bfrom%2babroad%2fCountry%2bassessment%2bguidelines%2bpost%2bOct%2b08%2f&NRNODEGUID=%7bA9096040-1A3C-408F-811F-A78DF05C9EDF%7d&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest#25

That looks more promising to me for American BSW holders.

The whole social work education structure here is very different from the Canadian and American social work education systems:

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p!eipaL?state=showocc&idno=88&pageno=1

http://www.socialworkcareers.co.uk/socialwork/default.asp

Hmm, that does look a lot more promising for BSWs.  Maybe because they've added 130 days of supervised practice to the criteria.

I need to email them about the 130 days.  The way I'm understanding it is that the 130 days can be in a field practicum setting, so long as you're being supervised and assessed in a social work role at said practicum.  But I need to be absolutely sure, because I don't want to apply then have them send the application back saying that I need to have actually worked post-qualification.  I've had three practicums, including the one I have now, and each was with a different target population.  That should be enough, but I guess I'll find out soon enough if it is.

I'm reading it as post-qualifying experience such as employment. Anyone else reading it the same?

I sent GSCC an email regarding the 130 days.  Just waiting to hear back...

"Have completed a minimum of 130 whole days in supervised and assessed social work practice, taking into account your training and relevant post-qualifying social work employment up until the date of your application. If you have completed less than 130 days, you should delay your application until you have reached this minimum period of employment in a social work role."

I read the 130 days as any combination of practicums / placements, plus post BSW social work employment, as long as it totals 130 days.

I got a reply from GSCC today.  Official word regarding the 130 days is:

Training placements/internships during your social work training will be
counted towards the 130 days.

Yay.   

Anyone concerned about the news that the UK is going to restict immigration for skilled workers?  I heard on the radio that this included Social Workers....anyone know who this effects, is it just new immigration or the people already here as well?

Christ.