News Archive 2011

Click on the titles below to check out 2011 news relating to NISCC. Please note that some of the links lead to downloadable documents. Material for other years can be accessed by clicking on the links on the left hand side. Notices about concluded Conduct Hearings are located in the Conduct section.

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Reconvened - 1 March 2012- NI Social Care Conduct Hearing (Edith Aiken McGaughey) - Registration Number NI/2043438)

A public hearing into the conduct of Ms Edith Aiken McGaughey, Registered Social Care Worker (Registration Number NI/2043438) which was held by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council Conduct Committee on Monday 23 January 2012 has been adjourned. The hearing will reconvene on Thursday 1 March 2012 at 9.30am. The hearing will be held at the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, Millennium House, Great Victoria Street, Belfast.

The Registrant is alleged to have committed misconduct and breached the NISCC’s Code of Practice for Social Care Workers as follows:

• On 28 January 2010 she failed to provide for the personal care and hygiene of a service user.
• On various dates between 13 August 2008 and 15 February 2010, she:

            - Spoke to several service users in an inappropriate manner

            - Failed to intervene to deal with self harming by a service user

            - Withheld food and/or drink from a service user as a form of punishment

            - Was physically rough with a service user.

Registration with the Council recognises each worker’s professional commitment to high standards in their conduct, training and practice. The NISCC investigates allegations of misconduct by Registrants and where someone is found to have breached the standards set out in the NISCC Code, they can have an admonishment placed on their Registration record, they can be suspended from the Register, or in serious cases where it is considered they are no longer suitable to work in social care, they can be removed from the Register.

Notes:

1. Hearings are normally open to members of the public. Anyone wishing to attend the hearing should contact Caroline Cumberland (Committee Clerk) on 028 9041 7644.

2. NISCC investigates fully all allegations of misconduct against Registrants. Conduct hearings are held where a NISCC Registrant is suspected of misconduct after evidence has been gathered. The Conduct Committee is made up of five members who have an interest or background in the social care sector but take decisions in the public interest. Three of the Committee members are lay members. Options open to the Committee are admonishment, suspension or removal of the Registrant from the Register.

3. Witnesses for Conduct cases may not be identified. In order to protect the confidentiality of these witnesses, including children, limited information is available from the NISCC before the hearing.

4. The NISCC is unable to confirm how long a hearing will last, or whether there will be adjournments or requests for them to be held in private. In accordance with the NISCC’s Conduct Rules, hearings may be held in private if the particular circumstances of the case outweigh the public interest in holding a public hearing. A full copy of the Conduct Rules is available from the Conduct section of this website

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HSCB Regional Social Work Awards 2012 - - Have you applied yet? - Closing date for entries is 20 January 2012 - Download your information pack and entry form now!

The closing date for applications to the 2012 Health and Social Care Board Regional Social Work Awards is nearing. Individuals or teams who want to recognise the best work in the profession must apply by Friday 20 January 2012.

The Awards are to promote and celebrate excellence in social work. There are six Awards – four Team Awards and two Individual Awards. An Overall Winner will be selected from each of the Award winners. The Awards will be presented at a celebratory lunch on Friday 8 June 2012 at Belfast City Hall (by kind permission of Belfast City Council).

Social workers working with children or adults; in education; or for a Trust, a charity, voluntary or private sector organisation, can be considered for an Award. Nominations can be made by social workers, managers, social care workers, HSC colleagues, education/training providers or members of the public. Closing date for entries is 20 January 2012.  Click on the link below to download the Awards Information Pack which contains details about the Awards categories, judging criteria and entry forms for the Awards. If you experience difficulty downloading the pack email susie.nelson@nisocialcarecouncil.org.uk for assistance.

Regional Social Work Awards 2012 Information Pack and Entry Form

The first Awards were held on 25 February 2011. 77 social work teams or indidivual practitioners were nominated for awards and the 16 shortlisted entries attended a prestigious award ceremony and celebratory lunch at Belfast City Hall. Click on the links below for more information about the shortlisted finalists for 2011, and pictures from the event.

Full report from Regional Social Work Awards 2011

Photographs from Regional Social Work Awards 2011

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Social Work Recruitment Drive – Western Australia

The Department for Child Protection (DCP) in Western Australia (WA), Australia’s largest and most resource-rich state, is seeking to attract experienced social workers under the recruitment theme ‘Work and Play in WA’.

Social workers from the United Kingdom are being urged to consider moving to Australia’s most prosperous state in a bid to fill up to 100 job vacancies in the child protection sector. Director General Terry Murphy said a shortage of child protection workers locally meant that an amazing opportunity was now open for UK professionals to migrate to WA for work. Most positions are for Child Protection Workers and involve responding to concerns about the safety and wellbeing of children and working with families to strengthen their parenting skills. Up to 100 child protection jobs are expected to be available state-wide in the coming months. Other vacancies from time to time include Child Psychologists and Senior Practice Development Officers. You can read the full news release - Recruitment Drive - DCP - Western Australia and you can also learn more from their website www.dcp.wa.gov.au  (click on the ‘Work and Play in WA’ banner.)

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Advance Notice - University of Ulster 2nd International Symposium on Decisions, Assessment, Risk and Evidence in Social Work

The 2nd University of Ulster international symposium will be held on Monday 2nd & Tuesday 3rd July 2012 at the Templeton Hotel, Templepatrick.

The first Symposium in 2010 attracted over 70 researchers, educators, policy makers, managers and senior practitioners to share current developments and to promote collaborative research, service development and teaching initiatives to improve professional knowledge and skills for the ultimate benefit of clients and families. This second Symposium is designed to build on that event.

Plenary Speakers:

• Professor Hazel Kemshall, De Montfort University Leicester who has published widely on risk assessment and management with adult client groups including criminal justice.
• Professor Aron Shlonsky, University of Toronto who has published widely on risk assessment and predicting harm in child welfare, and on evidence based practice in social work.

Call for abstracts is now open at http://www.socsci.ulster.ac.uk/irss/dare2012/abstracts.html

Further information will be added to the University of Ulster website over the coming months at: www.socsci.ulster.ac.uk/irss/dare2012

For more information, or if you would like your name to be added to the list for publicity, email: Mrs Sharon Lucas at: dare@ulster.ac.uk

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NISCC Registrants Contribution to the Review of Health & Social Care Services in Northern Ireland

Earlier this year the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Edwin Poots, announced a Review of Health & Social Care Services in Northern Ireland. The Review has been led by John Compton, Chief Executive of the Health and Social Care Board, and a Review Team appointed by the Minister.

As part of the Review, the Team were keen to secure input from a range of professionals and asked the Northern Ireland Social Care Council to facilitate some engagement opportunities for social care workers to contribute their views. NISCC invited registrants to submit responses via online survey and to take part in engagement events in Belfast and Derry. Feedback from the events was grouped into three areas of interest to the social care workforce and submitted to the Review Team. The Terms of Reference for the Review and the Registrants’ feedback can be downloaded from the links below.

HSC Review - Terms of Reference

HSC Review - Registrant Feedback - Family and Childcare

HSC Review - Registrant Feedback - Elder Care and Long Term Illness

HSC Review - Registrant Feedback - Mental Health and Learning Disability

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NISCC Supports Belfast Metropolitan College Annual Homelessness Awareness Panel

NISCC is supporting the Belfast Metropolitan College annual Homelessness Awareness Panel (HAP) event on Monday November 28th at the BMC Millfield Campus. ThIs event is to promote Homelessness Awareness Week’ which runs from 25th November to December 3rd.

The spectre of homelessness is a growing problem in Northern Ireland, and a corresponding concern for the broad range of service providers, carers and service users. The percentage of households accepted as homeless in Northern Ireland in 2009/10 was 1.47% of all households which is similar to Scotland (1.56%) but significantly greater than England and Wales (0.19% and 0.45% respectively). The most common reasons for registering as homeless were: marital breakdown/breakdown in co-habitation, breakdown in sharing arrangements, notice to quit/eviction, parental dispute and financial reasons.

The Panel will consist of a mixture of housing and homelessness providers, managers, and workers, alongside a current and a former hostel resident. All will be addressing ‘The interface between housing, homelessness and social work’, and the resulting impact on individuals, groups and organisations; and how best aspiring social workers can respond.

Gerry Skelton, Belfast Met Social Work lecturer and event convenor comments; “Homelessness is an historical as well as contemporary issue that deeply impacts upon a growing number of people, and this is clearly going to be further exacerbated by the prevailing economic crisis that will inevitably leave its mark on families as well as provider budgets. It is important that social work education allies itself with this important and consciousness-raising week, and I am delighted that Belfast Met is making this small but meaningful contribution to supporting the challenge of Homelessness in Belfast.”

For further information about this event, please contact: Michael McCamley – BMC Marketing Officer – Tel: 028 9025 5351. Click on the link below to view photos of the team.

Photos from BMC Homelessness Awareness Panel Team

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Date for your Diary - 2012 Joint User and Carer Conference

The Northern Ireland Social Care Council, Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, Patient Client Council, and Social Care Institue for Excellence  Joint Conference for 2012 “Joining Up The Jigsaw Pieces” will be held on Thursday 1 March 2012 (10.00am - 3.00pm) at Lisburn Civic Centre.

This annual event brings together examples of best practice in partnership working from a range of user and carer led projects across health and social care organisations in Northern Ireland. Booking forms and programme for this event will be circulated in the next few weeks.

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10/11/11

Adjourned - NI Social Care Conduct Hearing (Mavis Ruth Eagle - Registration Number NI/1083579)

The public hearing into the conduct of Ms Mavis Ruth Eagle, a Registered Social Worker (Registration Number NI/1083579) which was held by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council Conduct Committee on Thursday 10 November 2011 was adjourned. The date when this hearing reconvenes will be published as soon as possible.

Ms Eagle is alleged to have committed misconduct and breached the NISCC’s Code of Practice for Social Care Workers. It is alleged that, whilst employed as a care manager Ms Eagle:

• Failed to see a number of clients whom she had been signed out to see;
• Submitted and received payment for false mileage claims;
• Showed an unacceptable level of recording for a qualified social worker and care manager;
• Falsified the care manager signing in and out book;
• Falsified records for two clients;
• Contrary to instructions, breached the confidentiality of her employer’s investigations into her actions by contacting a number of parties regarding the investigation.

Registration with the Council recognises each worker’s professional commitment to high standards in their conduct, training and practice. The NISCC investigates allegations of misconduct by Registrants and where someone is found to have breached the standards set out in the NISCC Code, they can have an admonishment placed on their Registration record, they can be suspended from the Register, or in serious cases where it is considered they are no longer suitable to work in social care, they can be removed from the Register.

Notes:

1. Hearings are normally open to members of the public. Anyone wishing to attend the hearing should contact Caroline Cumberland (Committee Clerk) on 028 9041 7644.
2. NISCC investigates fully all allegations of misconduct against Registrants. Conduct hearings are held where a NISCC Registrant is suspected of misconduct after evidence has been gathered. The Conduct Committee is made up of five members who have an interest or background in the social care sector but take decisions in the public interest. Three of the Committee members are lay members. Options open to the Committee are admonishment, suspension or removal of the Registrant from the Register.
3. Witnesses for Conduct cases may not be identified. In order to protect the confidentiality of these witnesses, including children, limited information is available from the NISCC before the hearing. 
4. The NISCC is unable to confirm how long a hearing will last, or whether there will be adjournments or requests for them to be held in private. In accordance with the NISCC’s Conduct Rules, hearings may be held in private if the particular circumstances of the case outweigh the public interest in holding a public hearing. A full copy of the Conduct Rules is available from the Conduct section of this website 

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31/10/11

Review of the Children's Care, Learning and Development National Occupational Standards - Feedback on Draft Revisions

Children’s Care, Learning & Development (CCLD) NOS are the authoritative National Occupational Standards for people who work with children (and their families) in settings or services whose main purpose is children’s care, learning and development across the UK. The review is being managed by Skills for Care & Development (a partnership of CC Wales, CWDC, GSCC, NISCC, SfC and SSSC).

Revisions are being made to the NOS in the light of feedback from surveys and events held in May and June this year. We now want to check that the revisions are on track by inviting feedback on a sample of the revised NOS via online survey. Sample sets of the Standards will be released for comment on the following dates:

• Set A - 28 October – (Survey closed 11 Nov 2011)
• Set B - Survey now open with feedback to be completed by 25 November 2011
• Set C - Survey opens 25 November - with feedback to be completed by 9 December 2011

Please click http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PTHGJ6W to access the current survey for the CCLD NOS available for comment. The survey contains approximately 20 questions and contains details of a number of the new standards for you to assess and provide feedback.

In addition to this online survey, organisations who wish to consider the draft NOS as a group, can use separate ‘self-facilitated review packs’ which will be available for the sets of NOS listed above on the dates given. The packs are available on request from: philip.underdown@skillsforcareanddevelopment.org.uk

If there are other specific NOS that a group wishes to comment on, the group should contact Philip at the email above, quoting the number and title of the NOS they wish to see.

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28/10/11

Review of the Health and Social Care National Occupational Standards - Feedback on draft revisions

Health and Social Care (HSC) NOS are the authoritative National Occupational Standards for people who work in health and social care settings with adults and/or children across the UK. The review is the joint work of Skills for Health and Skills for Care & Development (a partnership of CCWales, CWDC, GSCC, NISCC, SfC and SSSC).

Revisions are being made to the NOS in the light of feedback from surveys and events held in May and June this year. We now want to check that the revisions are on track by inviting feedback on a sample of the revised NOS. Sample sets of the Standards will be released for comment on the following dates:

Set A - 28th October (Survey closed 11 November 2011)

Set B - Survey open - feedback to be completed by 25 November 2011

Set C - Survey opens 25 November – with feedback to be completed by 9 December 2011

Please click http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PQVH72Z to access the current survey for the HSC NOS available for comment. The survey contains approximately 20 questions and contains details of a number of the new standards for you to assess and provide feedback.

In addition to this online survey, organisations who wish to consider the draft NOS as a group, can use separate ‘self-facilitated review packs’ which will be available for the sets of NOS listed above on the dates given. The packs are available on request from: philip.underdown@skillsforcareanddevelopment.org.uk  

If there are other specific NOS that a group wishes to comment on, the group should contact Philip at the email above, quoting the number and title of the NOS they wish to see.

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26/10/11

A Continuous Learning Framework for Social Care Workers and Changes to PRTL

NISCC recently consulted with the sector on developing a Continuous Learning Framework and changes to PRTL for social care registrants.  The Framework will apply to social care registrants who are on Part 2 of the NISCC social care register. Feedback was sought from social care registrants, employers, service users, carers, and other key stakeholders. This consultation closed on 25 October 2011 and outcomes will be published shortly. The consultation document is available below (for information purposes only).

Consultation Document - Continuous Learning Framework - Social Care Workers

The Consultation document sets out the aim, rationale and background for the development of a Continuous Learning Framework for social care registrants. The overall aim of this Framework is to specify minimum learning standards which registrants must address to remain eligible for registration on the social care part of the NISCC Register. The standards will inform registrants’ learning and development and NISCC post registration training and learning requirements (PRTL).

Some changes to the current PRTL arrangements for social care registrants will be needed as part of the above development. This consultation document identifies these changes and also makes proposals which the NISCC considers important when taking forward the Continuous Learning Framework for social care registrants. The proposals are:

(a) The NISCC will introduce a Continuous Learning Framework which will inform/guide PRTL requirements for social care registrants

(b) The NISCC will introduce learning standards and PRTL requirements reflecting the level of responsibility of the social care registrant

(c) The NISCC will cease to routinely collect records of PRTL achievement at the point of renewal of registration and will strengthen the system of PRTL audit.

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Get Direction With Reflection - Reflective Practice Conference Report

In June 2011 Belfast Metropolitan College, Queen’s University Belfast, NI Degree in Social Work Partnership, NISCC PQ Partnership and the University of Ulster jointly hosted “Get Direction With Reflection”, a conference on reflective practice in social work. Reflective practice is recognised as a critical element of high quality social work practice at all levels and across all settings. The aim of the conference was to provide an opportunity to explore how we enable social workers to engage in the process of reflection and to facilitate sharing of good practice in assessment of reflection at both qualifying and post qualifying levels in social work.

The conference was hosted at University of Ulster, Jordanstown with a warm welcome from Prof Mary McColgan, Head of School of Sociology and Applied Social Studies. Mr Roy Blair, Chair of NI Degree in Social Work Partnership provided opening remarks and chaired the event and Mrs Lily Kerr, Chair of NISCC concluded with closing remarks and thanks. The event attracted over 150 attendees and was considered to be an excellent opportunity for both enhancing knowledge and networking with colleagues who have an interest in this particular area. Click on the links below to download full conference report, presentation and photos. (The presentations have been merged into a single pdf file.  Email Andre McKeown - NISCC Communications Officer - to request an individual powerpoint file)

Get Direction With Reflection - Reflective Practice Conference Report

Joint Reflective Practice Conference - Presentations

Joint Reflective Practice Conference - Photos

Review of the Children's Care, Learning and Development National Occupational Standards

Children’s Care, Learning and Development (CCLD) National Occupational Standards (NOS) are the authoritative occupational standards for people who work with children (and their families) in settings or services whose main purpose is children’s care, learning and development.

NISCC, in collaboration with our Skills for Care and Development Alliance partners undertaking a full review of the CCLD NOS. The review will consider all of the CCLD NOS. It will ascertain that the standards are fit for purpose; whether each standard is still relevant/not relevant; whether there are new standards that should be considered for inclusion. Keeping the standards updated will help in ensuring that qualifications which are based on the CCLD NOS are also fit for purpose for the future.

Our stakeholders can give their input to the review by taking part in our online survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HZXTLMT  Your input will be taken into account when revisions are made and revised draft CCLD NOS will be available for your consideration later in the year. The survey closes at midnight on 24 June 2011.

Review of the Health and Social Care National Occupational Standards

Health and Social Care (HSC) NOS are the authoritative occupational standards for people who work in health and social care settings with adults and/or children across the UK. NISCC, in collaboration with our Skills for Care and Development Alliance partners is undertaking a full review of the HSC NOS.

The review will consider all 215 of the HSC NOS. It will ascertain that the standards are fit for purpose; whether each standard is still relevant/not relevant; whether there are new standards that should be considered for inclusion.  Keeping the standards updated will help in ensuring that qualifications which are based on the HSC NOS are also fit for purpose for the future.

Our stakeholders can give their input to the review by taking part in our online survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CL5XVWP  Your input will be taken into account when revisions are made and revised draft NOS will be available for your consideration from the summer onwards. The survey closes at midnight on 20 June 2011.

Consultation on Indicative Sanctions for Social Care Conduct Cases

The NISCC has consulted on guidance booklet for Indicative Sanctions for social care conduct cases. This will assist Conduct Committees in deciding what action to take where they have concluded that a Registrant has breached the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers and committed misconduct. The guidance will also assist Preliminary Proceedings Committees when considering whether an Interim Suspension Order should be imposed before the full hearing of a case in front of a Conduct Committee.

The Indicative Sanctions Guidance Document for Consultation will form part of framework for promoting quality, transparency and consistency of decision making. It will ensure that all parties, including the public, are aware from the outset the approach likely to be taken. The Council closed this consultation on 13 May 2011. Outcomes will be published shortly.

Guide to Health on the Net Northern Ireland – www.honni.qub.ac.uk

Finding information about Social Work - A guide for social work staff. The Northern Ireland Health & Social Care Library delivers its services and resources via a single website (Health on the Net Northern Ireland) www.honni.qub.ac.uk and in a range of physical library locations.   The HONNI Guide to Finding Social Work Information has been produced to help social work staff source books and print resources, online databases, journals and quality assured websites relevant to social work. Geraldine O Beirn Subject Librarian at the Medical Library at Queen’s can also assist with queries about the resource. 

Three NISCC Designated Practice Learning Providers Shortlisted for University of Ulster Placement Employer of the Year Awards 2011

Three agencies approved by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council to provide practice learning opportunities for Degree in Social Work students in NI have been shortlisted for the prestigious University of Ulster Placement Employer Awards. These awards celebrate the invaluable contribution employers make to the employability of Ulster students.

Extern has been shortlisted in the category for organisations with over 50 employees. Extern is a charity working with partners, providing high quality, innovative and community based services for people who have complex needs.

Partnership Care West has been shortlisted in the category for organisations offering short term placements. This is the second time in 3 years that they have been shortlisted. They are a voluntary sector organisation providing a range of quality care and support services to a wide range of users.

Northern Health & Social Care Trust has been shortlisted in the category for public sector employees. They provide a range of hospital and community-based health and social care services including Acute hospital. The greater range of services provided by the Trust is in community-based settings.

The Awards will be presented at a black tie ceremony on the evening of 5 May 2011 at University of Ulster, Jordanstown campus. This award ceremony will be a high-profile event in which finalists and winners will have the opportunity to have their organisation showcased as an industry exemplar. Updates about the Awards are available from the university website at http://pa.ulster.ac.uk  

23/03/11

Annual Monitoring of the Degree in Social Work Rates Student Performance As High and Says it Reflects Excellent Teaching and Assessment

The Annual Monitoring Report for the Degree in Social Work in NI published on 23 March 2011 confirmed that standards of education and training provided by the Degree in Social Work courses in Northern Ireland are of excellent standard. Click here to download the NISCC Report- Annual Monitoring of Degree 2011

The Degree is one of the most popular courses at both the University of Ulster and the Queens University of Belfast and is attracting applications from students with a wide range of qualifications. Throughputs and outputs for both providers are good - with high completion rates. In 2009/2010 both universities were confirmed as meeting the NISCC standards. The standard of provision from both is high in comparison to other Degree courses in the United Kingdom.

External Examiner for Queen’s University said: ‘’As ever, student performance is generally high and often very high which reflects excellent teaching and assessment”; and• “This is an excellent professional social work Degree in all respects”.

External Examiner for University of Ulster said: “A professional and efficient course …the focus on reflection and skills on the course is to be commended and the consistent treatment of the cohorts ensures parity and equality”; and “Good quality graduates are produced”.

Both providers have made excellent progress in integrating service user, carer and survivors perspectives into the delivery and assessment of the Degree. Recent developments at Queen’s include a pioneering Training Course for Service Users and Carers - which is to be rolled out across Northern Ireland, and at the University of Ulster the use of Simulated Assessment Learning Tools (SALT) for children’s and adult services. NISCC are encouraging both providers to continue to develop the embedding of service user perspectives in all aspects of course delivery. For further information about NISCC Annual Monitoring of the Degree in Social Work, contact Jan Houston (NISCC Professional Adviser).

Review of the National Occupational Standards for Social Work

NISCC is the NI partner of Skills for Care & Development (SfC&D), the sector skills council for people working in social work, social care, early years, children and young people's services in the UK. NISCC is seeking views from the sector on the review of the National Occupational Standards for Social Work.

The National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Social Work state the core functions of a newly qualified social worker. The review will take place primarily in Wales and Northern Ireland where social work degree programmes are linked to the NOS through Degree Frameworks. It has some relevance in Scotland to ensure the NOS are broadly similar with the SiESWE standards (which are not under review). This review of NOS does not apply in England.

We would welcome the views of all those in Northern Ireland and Wales who have an interest in social work standards, including those using services or in a carer role; social workers, their managers and employers; those in HEIs working on social work degree programmes; and representatives of trade unions. We would particularly like to hear from newly qualified social workers themselves and those currently studying for the degree. Round 2 of the survey is now available. You can submit your comments via our online survey at:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2G9HJV9 

Your input will be taken into account when revisions are made. Revised NOS will be available for your consideration in the next few days. If you have any additional queries or comments about this review, contact Gerry Cunningham, NISCC Sector Skills Manager.

25/02/11

Congratulations to Finalists in the Regional Social Work Awards 2011

Social workers from across Northern Ireland were today recognised for their professionalism and commitment at the first ever Regional Social Work Awards,. These awards were pioneered by Fionnuala McAndrew, HSCB Director of Social Care and Children’s Services as part of a project to raise the profile of social work and to acknowledge the vital contribution the profession makes to our society.

77 social work teams or practitioners were nominated for awards and the 16 shortlisted entries attended a prestigious award ceremony and celebratory lunch at Belfast City Hall. Click on the links below for more information about the shortlisted finalists, and pictures from the event.

Full report from Regional Social Work Awards 2011

Photographs from Regional Social Work Awards 2011

Awards Results

Individual Award Winner - Mary Hogg - Cystic Fibrosis Team - Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust.

Developing Practice (Team Award) Winner - Beacon Social Care Model - Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health.

Innovation (Team Award) Winner - Oncology & Haematology Social Work - Jimmyteens TV Project, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust.

Partnership (Team Award) Winner - Elder Care Team Magherafelt - Northern Health & Social Care Trust. Overall Winner - Oncology & Haematology Social Work - Jimmyteens TV Project, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust. This team are based at the Cancer Centre in Belfast City Hospital. They wanted to improve the hospital experience for young people aged between 16 and 21 by adding a creative dimension. Over three years, 35 young people were offered the opportunity to make films about their cancer journey which were then uploaded to the JimmyTeens TV website.

Presenting the award to the overall winner, Michael McGimpsey, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety said: It was extremely difficult for the judges to select an overall winner from the winners in the four award categories. Their outstanding commitment to excellence demonstrates in daily working life, the professionalism and core values of social work. There were a number of factors which set the overall winner of the Regional Social Work Awards 2011 apart from the rest of the field:

• They are innovative and creative
• They maximise technology in their work They value the talent and inspiration of the young people
• They are making a positive impact on the lives of the young people they work with.
• This is Social Work at its Best

16/02/11

Skills for Care & Development Publishes 2nd UK Sector Skills Assessment

The Draft SfCD 2nd UK Sector Skills Assessment for early years, children and young people’s workforces is now available. The draft report includes those working in social work and social care for children and adults in the UK. A final version of this report will be available shortly.

This is the second UK Sector Skills Assessment report to be published by Skills for Care and Development for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. This second assessment brings together the best evidence SfC&D has at UK level for what is driving demand for skills in the sector, what impact that this has upon current skills needs and how skills needs are expected to change in the future. The report sets out SfC&D’s assessment of the demand for skills that exists across the sector, now and in the future. It draws upon labour market intelligence, national statistics and primary data collected by SfC&D at national level, research, UK and national policy documents, feedback from service users and employers about skills needs and labour market issues

The assessment is intended to inform the development of skills policy, SfC&D’s strategy as a Sector Skills Council and business planning by SfC&D and its partners. The evidence presented in all of the Sector Skills Assessment reports will also be used by employers and other stakeholders across the sector to ensure that workforce development helps to build more effective and efficient front line services. Click on the link below to download the draft report (173 page pdf file)

Draft SfCD 2nd UK Sector Skills Assessment

15/02/11

Social Services Improvement Agency Wales Free Webinar: Findings and future challenges in achieving greater efficiencies in older people services

The SSIA in Wales are inviting social care workers from Northern Ireland to join their free webinar on achieving greater efficiencies in older people's services. This webinar will be held on Thursday 17th February, 11am-12:30. It will be led by John Bolton, former Director of Finance at the Department of Health who has recently undertaken a substantial investigatory piece of work into the subject area working in partnership with all 22 local authorities in Wales. An expert panel from Directors of Social Services and NHS will discuss it implications and viewers will be able to ask questions live directly to the panel. The learning uncovered in this work could be of real benefit to social care workers across the UK.

A link to the webinar will be available on 17th February 2011 from the web page http://www.ssiacymru.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5433

(Webinars are an event held over the internet which allows viewers to watch the presentations via a video and be able to submit questions live to the presenters.)

NIASW Diary Dates

For further information on any of these events, please contact Amanda Beattie, National Administrator, NIASW.  Email: a.beattie@basw.co.uk  tel: 02890648873

I4 March 2011 - NIASW World Social Work Day Celebration Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Belfast. The event is open to NIASW Members only. The event includes the Launch of the NIASW Social Work Manifesto and the presentation of the NIASW 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award. Guest Speaker will be Dr Jan Ligon, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA. Download your NIASW World Social Work Day Event Programme and Booking Form 

14 April 2011 - Debate on the Merits of Publishing Case Management Reviews Joint NIASW/BASPCAN event at the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast. This event is free, with an early release to members of BASPCAN and NIASW. Speakers at the event include: Hilton Dawson Chief Executive, BASW – The College of Social Work, Kathryn Torney Senior Journalist, The Detail, Colin Reid Policy and Public Affairs Manager, NSPCC (NI), Lynne Peyton Independent Social Worker

11 May 2011 – NIASW AGM. Advance notice – this event will introduce the new Northern Ireland Advice and Representation Officer. Further details to follow.

Lily Kerr, Chair of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, Affirms the Council’s Commitment to Raising Standards in the NI Social Care Workforce

Lily Kerr, presiding over her first meeting as Chair of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council confirmed her commitment to taking forward the Council’s work to raise standards of conduct, training and practice for social care workers. Ms Kerr expressed her delight at the Minister’s recent announcement on his plans for the introduction of compulsory registration of the first tranche of social care workers within the next two years.

She said: “Registration is an important recognition of the valuable work social care workers carry out on behalf of the most vulnerable people in our society. I can assure people who use social care services and their carers that under no circumstances, now or in the future, will the Council allow standards to slip.” Ms Kerr reminded the council that in her position as a Trade Union official, she has always fought for the elderly, the young, those with mental ill health and other vulnerable groups of people and she saw her role as chair of the council as a continuation of that work on behalf of those groups of service users.

In December 2010, Social Services Minister, Michael McGimpsey indicated his plans for the introduction of compulsory registration of priority groups of social care workers by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council within the next two years. Currently, social workers and social work students (over 6000 people) are the only groups of staff for whom registration with the NISCC is compulsory. To date, around 7,500 social care workers, out of an estimated workforce of 27,000 have already registered voluntarily with the Council. When this next phase of registration is completed, approximately half of the total social care workforce (14,000) will be registered.

It is planned that registration will be introduced on a staged basis. NISCC will be working closely with social care workers and their employers to assist them with the registration process. The timetable below details the groups of social care workers involved in the first stage of compulsory registration and the registration dates which apply to them It is important that applications are submitted to the NISCC in good time to ensure that the NISCC can process applications to meet the published timescales. From these dates, only NISCC registered social care workers will be able to practise in the job categories identified.

Timetable for First Stage of Compulsory Registration of Social Care Workers

The Minister has indicated that plans to introduce compulsory registration for the remaining groups of social care workers will be brought forward as quickly as possible. In the meantime, individual social care workers who are not in the specified priority groups may still make an application for voluntary registration with the NISCC.

NISCC will be working with social care workers and their employers to support them as they apply to register. Information on registration, copies of application forms and the NISCC Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers are available from the NISCC website www.niscc.info Alternatively, contact the NISCC Enquiries Team by email at info@nisocialcarecouncil.org.uk or by calling 028 9041 7600

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