SSSC Registration Policy V1 - The Action GroupSSSC, that this process will also include Casual Support Workers, when it becomes a requirement for support workers to register with SSSC

SSSC Registration Policy

Cross referenced (internal/external)

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Capability Policy

Disciplinary Policy

Recruitment Policy

Regulation of Care (Fitness of Employee in Relation to Care Services) (Scotland) (No.2) Amendment Regulations 2010;

The Registration of Social Workers and Social Service Workers in Care Services (Scotland) Regulations 2013.

Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice 2003.

Version V1

Name of responsible Department HR

Date ratified 23rd August 2017

Date Ratified by JCC 23rd August 2017

Document Manager (job title) Senior Manager HR

Date issued

Review date

Electronic location

Related Procedural Documents

The Action Group

SSSC Registration Policy V1 Page 2 of 21

Version Control

Amendments Record

Date Section Comments Approved by

August

2017 All New policy created

The Action Group

SSSC Registration Policy V1 Page 3 of 21

Contents

Policy Statement

Section 1 –Responsibilities regarding SSSC registration

Section 2 – Requirement to register

Section 3 – The process of registration

Section 4 – Qualifications and Post-Registration Training and Learning (PRTL)

Section 5 – Refusal to register

Section 6 – Loss of registration

Section 7 – Other reasons for not meeting registration requirements

Section 8 – Fitness to Practice

Section 9 – Data protection and monitoring

Appendix A – Parts of the Register

Appendix B - SSSC Registration Requirements

4 | P a g e

Policy Statement

The aim of this policy is to provide guidance on:

Explaining the requirements to comply with the legislation

How employees can achieve and maintain SSSC registration

The process to be followed if employee’s registration is either lost or not achieved. The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) was formed on the 1st October 2001 following the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. The SSSC has the duty of registering all Social Services Workers and developing the Codes of Practice, which set down the standards and responsibilities that employees and employers within Social Services should adhere to. The intent behind the development of the Codes of Practice and the registration process was to further improve and maintain the standards within Social Services. Registration is based on the role and responsibility of particular positions within the care sector, as identified by the SSSC. To maintain registration for such a post, the relevant formal qualification must be achieved within the timeframe set down by the SSSC (Appendix 1). It is a legal requirement and therefore it is compulsory for Adult and Children’s Social Services in The Action Group to comply with this process. Without the relevant registration employees will not be in a position to continue practicing in their current registered roles. This policy applies to staff who are required to register with the SSSC and who work in a registered service (see Appendix 1). For the avoidance of doubt, it is anticipated on advice from SSSC, that this process will also include Casual Support Workers, when it becomes a requirement for support workers to register with SSSC (at the time of writing the register will open for in October 2017).

Section 1 – Responsibilities regarding SSSC registration

1.1 Responsibilities for all individual members of staff are as follows:

Read and comply with all standards of work and conduct as described in the SSSC Code of Practice

Find out whether your job role at The Action Group requires you to register with the SSSC, and if so, in what timescale.

If your role requires registration: o Submit a application for registration with the SSSC on time and in line with that

organisation’s processes o Pay the required fee for registration to the SSSC at the correct time o Work towards, or provide evidence of any qualification required for registration o Maintain registration through payment of fees, ongoing professional development,

appropriate conduct, and renewal of application when required. o Keep the SSSC informed of any changes to your personal details. o Notify The Action Group immediately if your registration ends or is suspended

whilst you are employed by us o Cooperate with all organisational policies and procedures regarding SSSC

registration. This includes any management action taken as a result of finding that a staff member has not met essential registration requirements.

5 | P a g e

1.2 Line manager responsibilities are as follows:

Ensure all relevant members of staff are aware of their responsibilities to register with the SSSC and provide support as appropriate – especially during recruitment and induction processes for new staff.

Be aware of SSSC employer reporting duties (see Fitness to Practice section of this policy) and alert more senior management if you have any concerns about employees which relate to this.

Support staff to meet qualification requirements set by the SSSC.

Provide staff with opportunities for ongoing professional training and development

1.2 Responsibilities for more senior managers are as follows:

Maintain awareness of SSSC registration and reporting requirements as they relate to The Action Group

Participate in internal monitoring processes which track staff registration and take appropriate action relating to individual services and staff where necessary to ensure compliance with SSSC requirements.

Ensure that appropriate resources are available to assist staff in meeting qualification requirements set by the SSSC.

Ensure that The Action Group is appropriately listed on the SSSC database, that there are sufficient number of countersignatories available, and that requests for countersigning are processed in a timely fashion.

1.3 Responsibilities for the HR department are as follows:


Support the Learning and Development team to communicate the above to all relevant staff and managers

Design and maintain monitoring processes which track staff registration across The Action Group and communicate this information to relevant managers and staff

Support managers to take appropriate action where necessary to ensure compliance with SSSC requirements. Such action should take account of external legal context.

Where required, report Fitness to Practice concerns relating to staff formally to the SSSC in accordance with that organisation’s own procedures and rules.

1.4 Responsibilities for the Learning and Development Department are as follows:


Communicate the above to all relevant staff and managers and support as appropriate

Provide opportunities for staff to meet qualification requirements set by the SSSC

Support individual staff who are working towards qualifications as above

Provide staff with opportunities for ongoing professional training and development.

Section 2 – Requirement to Register

2.1 As of April 2017, the following job roles in The Action Group require SSSC registration

Development Manager HACSS/CAATS (Manager)

6 | P a g e

Team Managers HACSS/CAATS (Supervisor)

Play Workers with over three years’ service

Support Workers and Assistant Team Managers HACSS/CAATS (Support Worker) – register due to open on 2nd October 2017. Deadlines for staff to register will be confirmed at this time. Envisaged at the time of writing that this will be within 3 years however it is advised applications should be made to SSSC by 2019 (date to be confirmed)

2.2 Each member of staff needs to apply for the correct section of the register. Guidance about

this can be obtained from the Learning & Development Department where needed. (Members of

staff in HACSS and CAATS will need to apply for both Housing Support and Care at Home.)

2.3 When any employee starts a new role (either on a temporary or permanent basis) for which

SSSC registration is required, they must gain that registration by the SSSC deadline of six

months. In order to achieve this, The Action Group strongly recommends that staff submit their

applications before their fourth month in the role in order for the application to be processed in

time.

Section 3 – The Process of Registration 3.1 Registration must be completed online. In order to register, staff should go to http://www.sssc.uk.com/registration. Please note that a personal email address is required for this process. 3.2 Guidance and support with the registration process can be sought from the following sources

The SSSC website and helpline

Line managers

The Learning and Development team Section 4 – Qualifications and Post-Registration Training and Learning (PRTL)

4.1 Staff can register with the SSSC prior to attaining the educational or vocational qualification listed by the SSSC as necessary for the role. However, they are required to attain this relevant qualification within the timeframe outlined by the SSSC (please refer to Appendix 1 for details on the qualification requirements for each role and the timescales for achieving the qualifications).

4.2 The Action Group will provide opportunities for staff to obtain necessary qualifications as

related to 4.1 above. However, individual staff members are expected to carry out private study in

their own unpaid time as part of this.

4.3 Should staff fail to take up or complete qualification opportunities offered by The Action Group,

then any the offering of any further opportunities for qualification is at management discretion.

4.4 Non-casual staff who are unlikely to meet the registration qualification standards within the requisite timeframe, and do not hold other qualifications (educational or vocational) should be

http://www.sssc.uk.com/registration

7 | P a g e

supported through the capability process to assist them to meet the standard. See the Capability Policy for more details. 4.5 Managers should identify staff that are likely to have difficulty in achieving the registration qualification standards at an early opportunity and flag this up to HR and L&D so that adequate time can be afforded to support them to meet the standard. 4.6 Should the staff member still be unable to meet the qualification standards required in time for the relevant SSSC deadline and therefore lose their registration, managers will take appropriate action as necessary to ensure organisational compliance with SSSC requirements. See section 6.3.

4.7 When renewing their registration, the employee may be asked to submit evidence of their Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL). The SSSC will not ask for this every time, but they will ask a sample of those renewing their registration to produce this information. If the employee does not submit a record of their PRTL when requested by the SSSC, suitability for registration may be challenged by them. 4.8 How much PRTL the employee needs to do and in what timescale depends on the part of the register the employee is registered for and further information about this can be found in Appendix 2. 4.9 The Action Group is committed to the provision of suitable training and learning opportunities,

but as part of their professional duties, staff should also expect to carry out some of their own

learning outside of the workplace. For example, this could include reading relevant media articles

or using the reflection and development tools available on the SSSC website.

Section 5 – Refusal to Register or Rejection of an Employee’s Application by the SSSC

5.1 Where required by the SSSC, registration is a mandatory task for staff and refusal to apply

within appropriate timeframes may be treated as potential gross misconduct. See the Disciplinary

Policy for further information of what this means.

5.2 Other potential management actions if an employee fails to apply for registration in the

relevant timeframe or has their application rejected by the SSSC are listed in sections 6.2 and 6.3.

Section 6 – Loss of Registration

6.1 Once registered, it is essential that each individual staff member maintains their registration at

all times whilst holding the relevant job title. This involves the following:

Paying registration fees when due

Re-applying for registration when requested by either the SSSC or The Action Group (including after a change in job role)

Meeting conditions of registration such as qualification requirements

8 | P a g e

Carrying out their role in a way that meets professional standards

Conducting themselves both inside and outside of work in a manner meeting the SSSC’s Code of Practice

6.2 If a staff member loses their SSSC registration on a temporary basis, it is necessary for The

Action Group to remove them from the job role in question until the registration is regained -

unless advised otherwise by the Care Inspectorate. Potential management actions would therefore

include one or more of the following:

(With agreement from employee) Temporary transfer to another job role at the same rate of pay and hours

(With agreement from employee) Temporary transfer to another job role with alternative pay and/or hours

Temporary suspension without pay

Consideration for disciplinary sanction where appropriate

Consideration for capability process where appropriate

If a casual member of staff, their contract may be suspended or terminated

6.3 If the staff member loses their registration on a permanent basis it is necessary for The Action

Group to remove them permanently from the job role in question unless advised otherwise by the

Care Inspectorate. Potential management actions would therefore include one or more of the

following:

Temporary suspension without pay whilst the situation is considered

Dismissal from The Action Group (or termination of casual contract)

(With agreement from employee) Permanent transfer to an alternative job role which may have different hours, pay, etc.

Consideration for disciplinary sanction where appropriate

Consideration for capability process where appropriate

Section 7 – Other reasons for not meeting registration requirements

7.1 If a staff member is left without registration past the appropriate deadline for any reason not

already listed (e.g. through error or delay by the SSSC) it is at senior management discretion to

resolve the situation to the best of their ability with reference to legal requirements, Care

Inspectorate advice, and relevant organisational policy.

Section 8 – Fitness to Practise

8.1 The SSSC Fitness to Practise procedures relate to the conduct, capability, and health of

registered workers. Full details can be found on the SSSC’s website.

8.2 The SSSC’s Fitness to Practise procedures place an obligation on both individual workers and

management to report serious matters of concern to them.

8.3 The SSSC’s Code of Conduct for Employers also places a responsibility on The Action Group

to support employees whose fitness to practise is impaired.

9 | P a g e

8.4 The Action Group’s management will comply with all SSSC Fitness to Practise procedures and

make referrals as necessary. This process will be led by the Senior Manager HR or other manager

delegated by them.

Section 9 – Data Protection and Monitoring

9.1 The Action Group will capture SSSC registration details and record it on its Human Resources Information System (HRIS), Cascade. 9.2 Individuals must inform HR of any changes to their SSSC registration in a timely fashion after the change has been made. 9.3 Data relating to individual staff will be tracked, monitored and communicated to managers and staff in order to ensure compliance with SSSC requirements

10 | P a g e

11 | P a g e

Appendix 1 - PARTS OF THE REGISTER: the full register is wider that this table in terms of its scope. The parts of the register detailed below are those relevant to

The Action Group. Where the date for registration has passed, staff have six months from their start date in a new role to gain registration.

Part of the Register

TAG Role Registration commenced Current Application Fee

Fees proposed by SSSC from 1 Sept 17/181

Registration Period Requirement Date

Manager of a Day Care of Children Service

DM (CAATS) 1 October 2006 £30

£80 5 Years 30 November 2010

Manager in Housing Support Service

DM 21 January 2011 £30

£80 5 Years 31 January 2014

Managers of Care at Home Service DM 21 January 2011 £30

£80 5 Years 31 January 2014

Supervisors in a Housing Support Service

TM 30 June 2014 £20

£35 5 Years 30 June 2017

Supervisors in a Care at Home Service

TM 30 June 2014 £20

£35 5 Years 30 June 2017

Practitioner in Day Care of Children Service

TM involved in delivering Playscheme

1 March 2007 £20 £35

5 Years 30 September 2011

Support Workers in a Housing Support Service

Support workers HACCS & CAATS 2 Oct 2017 – further

guidance to follow TBC TBC

3 Years

Yet to be confirmed by

SSSC

Support Workers in a Care at Home Service

Support workers HACCS & CAATS

2 Oct 2017 – further guidance to follow

TBC TBC

3 Years Yet to be

confirmed by SSSC

1 It may be possible to claim 20% tax relief on these figures for basic rate tax payers if you claim tax relief. Further explanation about the fees and the reasons for the proposed increases can be found at: http://www.sssc.uk.com/consultations/consultations/current-consultations/consultation-on-the-scottish-social-services-council-registration-fees

12 | P a g e

Appendix 2 - SSSC REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

M1 – MANAGER/LEAD PRACTICTITIONER OF DAY CARE OF CHILDREN SERVICE Registration Existing Staff: date of required registration is immediate as has been a requirement from 30 November 2010.

New Staff: date of required registration is within 6 months of commencement of post. Main national practice and management qualifications

Practice Qualifications*

The main national practice qualifications are:

HNC Childood Practice (at SCQF Level 7)

SVQ Social Services Children and Young People (at SCQF Level 7)

Please note: You must hold a practice qualification before you gain one of the following mandatory management qualifications.

Management qualifications*

You must hold one of the following management qualifications:

BA Childhood Practice BA (Honours) Childhood Practice (Strathclyde University) Graduate Diploma Childhood Practice (the University of the West of Scotland) SQA Professional Development Award Childhood Practice (360 credits at SCQF Level 9)

Upon entry to this qualification you will be expected to hold or be willing to undertake a suitable practice award*

Postgraduate Diploma in Childhood Practice Master of Education Childhood Practice, Glasgow University and Dundee University

Qualifications meeting requirements of other regulatory bodies*

BA (Hons) Social Work (or equivalent). Degree or Diploma in Community Education or equivalent as recognised by the Standards Council for

Community Learning and Development for Scotland Approvals Committee.

http://www.sssc.uk.com/registration/what-qualifications-do-i-need/find-out-about-qualifications#qualifications-accordion-0-list-0

13 | P a g e

A qualification meeting the registration requirements for the following professional groups regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council: Occupational Therapists; Art, Music and Drama Therapists: Physiotherapists; Speech and Language Therapists; Practitioner Psychologists.

A qualification meeting the registration requirements of the General Teaching Council (Scotland); Nursing and Midwifery Council or the General Medical Council.

For all of the qualifications in this section, an award with 60 credits of management that has been mapped to the Standard of Childhood Practice (at SCQF Level 9) is also required.

Management qualifications that SSSC accepted in the past*:

BA Professional Development in Childhood Practice from Dundee University

*This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Please check with SSSC should you hold a qualification which you think should be considered and is not listed.

Registration period

5 years

PRTL required Must complete 10 days or 60 hours within registration period

M2 – MANAGER IN HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICE Registration Existing Staff: date of required registration is immediate as has been a requirement since 31 January 2014



The main national practice qualification is:

SVQ Social Services and Healthcare (at SCQF Level 9)

Also accepted*:

BA (Hons) Social Work (or equivalent) Degree or Diploma in Community Education or equivalent as recognised by the Standards Council for

Community Learning and Development for Scotland Approvals Committee


14 | P a g e

A qualification meeting the registration requirements for the following professional groups regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council: Occupational Therapists; Art, Music and Drama Therapists: Physiotherapists; Speech and Language Therapists; Practitioner Psychologists

A qualification meeting the registration requirements of the General Teaching Council (Scotland), Nursing and Midwifery Council or the General Medical Council

Please note: You must hold a practice qualification and a management qualification.

Management Qualifications* You must hold one of the following management qualifications:

Any award in management that is certified at or above SCQF level 8 (minimum of 60 points) SVQ 4 leadership and management for care services (LMCS) at SCQF Level 10 SVQ 4 Leadership and Management for Care Services (LMCS) at SCQF Level 10 S/NVQ 4 Management SVQ 4 Registered Manager in Health and Social Care (Registered Manager's Award) Diploma in Public Administration An assessed programme of study (either through a taught programme or by portfolio) where a

minimum of 60 credit points covers management, at post-qualifying or advanced Level, awarded by the PQ Consortium for Social Work in Scotland.

Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Undergraduate Professional Diploma/SCQF Level 9 and 10 CIH Professional Diploma - Postgraduate/SCQF Level 11 A qualification meeting the corporate membership requirements of the CIH


Registration period

5 years

PRTL requirements

Must complete 25 days or 150 hours of PRTL within registration period


15 | P a g e

M3 – MANAGER - CARE AT HOME SERVICES Registration Existing Staff: date of required registration is immediate as has been a requirement since 31 January 2014



The main national practice qualification is:

SVQ Social Services and Healthcare (at SCQF Level 9)

Also accepted*:

BA (Hons) Social Work (or equivalent) Degree or Diploma in Community Education or equivalent as recognised by the Standards Council for

Community Learning and Development for Scotland Approvals Committee

A qualification meeting the registration requirements for the following professional groups regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council: Occupational Therapists; Art, Music and Drama Therapists: Physiotherapists; Speech and Language Therapists; Practitioner Psychologists

A qualification meeting the registration requirements of the General Teaching Council (Scotland), Nursing and Midwifery Council or the General Medical Council

S/NVQ 4 Health and Social Care at SCQF Level 10

S/NVQ 4 Care Please note: You must hold a practice qualification and a management qualification.

Management Qualifications*:

SVQ 4 Care Services Leadership and Management at SCQF Level 10 Any award in management that is certificated at or above SCQF Level 8 (minimum of 60 credits)

showing evidence the award has been mapped against the National Occupational Standards (NOS): Leadership and Management for Care Services

16 | P a g e


Registration period

5 years

PRTL requirements


17 | P a g e

S1 – SUPERVISOR IN A HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICE Registration Existing Staff: date of required registration is 30 June 2017


Please note: There are two parts to supervisor’s qualification requirements. You must have a practice and a supervisory qualification.

Practice qualifications*

The main national practice qualifications are:

Any practice qualification in the Manager category for registration (see previous Manager tables in Appendix 2 for details)

HNC Social Services

SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 7

Supervisory qualifications*

You must gain one of the following supervisory qualifications:

An additional supervisory or management qualification containing supervision or a management theory and practice qualification suitable for a Supervisor of a Care Service with a minimum of 15 credits at SCQF level 7 or above.


Registered period

5 years

PRTL requirements




18 | P a g e

S2 – SUPERVISOR IN A CARE AT HOME SERVICE Registration Existing Staff: date of required registration is from 30 June 2017


Please note: There are two parts to supervisor’s qualification requirements. You must have a practice and a supervisory qualification.

Practice qualifications

The main national practice qualifications are*:

Any practice qualification in the Manager category for registration (see previous Manager tables in Appendix 2 for details)

HNC Social Services

SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 7

Supervisory qualifications*

You must gain one of the following supervisory qualifications: An additional supervisory or management qualification containing supervision or a management theory and practice qualification suitable for a Supervisor of a Care Service with a minimum of 15 credits at SCQF level 7 or above.


Registered period

5 years

PRTL requirements

Must complete 10 days or 60 hours of PRTL



19 | P a g e

SW1 – SUPPORT WORKER IN A DAY CARE OF CHILDREN SERVICE Registration Existing Staff: date of registration is immediate as has been a requirement since 30 June 2014

New Staff: date of required registration is within 6 months of commencement of post. Main national practice qualifications



NC in Early Education and Childcare at SCQF Level 6 SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) at SCQF Level 6 Any qualification in the practitioner in day care of children services category BA (Hons) Social Work (or equivalent) HNC Additional Support Needs (Supporting the Individual) PDA in Education Support Assistance at SCQF Level 6 SVQ 2 Playwork at SCQF Level 6 SVQ Children's Care Learning and Development at SCQF Level 2 The Early Years Developing Practice (The OU module E100)


Registered period

5 years

PRTL requirements

Must complete 10 days or 60 hours of PRTL


20 | P a g e

SW2 – SUPPORT WORKER IN A CARE AT HOME SERVICE Registration Existing Staff: SSSC have advised that date of required registration is likely to be in Autumn of 2017.

New Staff: to be confirmed by SSSC, but likely to be within 6 months of commencement of post. Main national practice qualifications



Any qualification accepted as a practice qualification for supervisor or manager HNC Social Services SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 6


Registered period

3 years

PRTL requirements

To be confirmed by SSSC.


21 | P a g e

SW3 – SUPPORT WORKER IN HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICE Registration Existing Staff: SSSC have advised that date of required registration is likely to be in Autumn of 2017.

New Staff: to be confirmed by SSSC, but likely to be within 6 months of commencement of post. Main national practice qualifications



Any qualification accepted as a practice qualification for supervisor or manager HNC Social Services SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 6


Registered period

3 years

PRTL requirements

To be confirmed by SSSC.
