News Archive 2009

Click on the titles below to check out 2009 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.

NEWS INDEX

01/10/09

Degree in Social Work - New Part-time Pathway

Queen’s University of Belfast (QUB) and the University of Ulster, Magee (UUM) will be providing a part-time pathway to the Honours Degree in Social Work from September 2010.  15 dedicated places will be available at each University and applications to this route will be made via direct entry to each of the Universities. The course could take up to 5 years to complete.  In addition to the University’s academic requirements, applicants will require a minimum of 3 years sustained paid or voluntary work experience in social care or a related field (education, health, community or youth work) within the past 5 year period.

Further Information
QUB: contact the School Office at Tel: 028 9097 5117, Email: soc@qub.ac.uk or go to Website: www.qub.ac.uk/soc
UUM: contact Vincent McCauley at Tel: 028 7137 5229 or Email: v.mccauley@ulster.ac.uk

01/10/09

Launch of the New Vetting and Barring Scheme - 12 October 2009

The new Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) for Northern Ireland, England and Wales will be introduced from 12 October 2009.  This scheme will help prevent unsuitable people from undertaking paid or volunteer work with children or vulnerable adults.  The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is responsible for the scheme and will make decisions over who should be barred from working with vulnerable people.  These decisions are legally binding so a barred person must not undertake certain roles under any circumstances.  Failing to comply could result in both the employer and the employee or volunteer being prosecuted and even going to prison.  ISA-registration will not replace the need for AccessNI Criminal Records checks but represents an extra level of protection.

For more information about the full range of safeguards and the dates when each one comes into force, please visit the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups website at: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/svg.htm/ 

The latest information from the ISA is available from their website at www.isa-gov.org.uk

23/09/09

Social Work at its Best – conference report, presentations and photographs - Celebrating innovation, showcasing best practice and preparing for the future

Recently the Northern Ireland Social Care Council and the five Health and Social Care Trusts hosted a conference to celebrate innovation and showcase some of the best practice from social work in Northern Ireland.  Social workers provide vital services every day, working to ensure people have the protection and support they need to live as safely and independently as possible.  This conference was an opportunity for social workers, alongside service commissioners, education interests, service users and carers to look at examples of what has been achieved so far and how they continue to develop practice into the future.

The event was opened by Learning Disability Support Services Manager, Mrs Carmel Mc Grath and a Service User's  Makaton choir, accompanied by a percussion and dance group from day care in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.  The performers provided an inspiring rendition of the popular songs 'You Raised Me Up' and 'Some Where A Place for Us'.  Edward Howells, a Servicer User with Autism also read from his set of poetry books 'Poems about Lives'.

Keynote speakers at the conference included Sean Holland, Acting Chief Officer, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Brian Dornan, Director of Children’s Services for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Jeanie Johnston, Head of Communications for South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and Ian Sutherland, NI representative for the Social Care Institute for Excellence. 

Sean Holland, Acting Chief Officer, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, commended social workers for the time, effort and persistence they expend in helping people in often very difficult circumstances.  He noted that many of the conference delegates had contributed to the NISCC consultation carried out in 2008 to identify the ‘Roles and Tasks of Social Work’.  He said the DHSSPS intends to use the findings from this consultation to develop a policy paper that sets out not just what the role of social work as a public service in NI is, but also what is needed to support staff to perform this role.

Social workers from each of the five Health and Social Care Trusts held workshops to explore innovation and best practice.  The workshops covered:

• Ensuring Best Practice – A Team Approach to Improving Quality
• Innovative Developments in Person Centred Practice
• Working Together to Protect Children – Child Care/Mental Health Interface
• Practice Initiatives in Adult Protection
• “What is important to me” – Young People’s Participation

Click here to view the speakers’ presentations (10 pages pdf)
Click here to view the workshops’ presentations (16 pages pdf)

01/08/09

DHSSPS Consultation on Compulsory Registration of the NI Workforce

Northern Ireland could be the first part of the UK to register all staff groups across the social care workforce. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is consulting on processes and timescales to introduce and enforce registration for all social care workers in Northern Ireland by July 2013.

Key features of the consultation are:

• A phased introduction of compulsory registration for social care workers (see timetable below)
• Introduction of legislation making it an offence to work while not being registered after these dates
• A ‘grace period’ of 6 months for new entrants to social care to achieve registration
• The extension of the length of registration for certain groups to allow them to complete their Post Registration Training and Learning

Compulsory Registration - Proposed Timetable

Further Information
The full consultation document and accompanying questionnaire are available from the DHSSPS website www.dhsspsni.gov.ukThe consultation closes on 26th October 2009

30/07/09

NISCC welcomes BASW Chief Executive – Hilton Dawson to Belfast

NISCC recently welcomed BASW’s new UK Chief Executive Hilton Dawson to Belfast. Mr Dawson has just completed his UK tour ‘Listening to Social Workers, Valuing Social Work’.  The tour covered all four countries of the UK and was attended by over 500 social workers.  Mr Dawson also met with four of the five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland. 

The meeting was an opportunity to share experiences of social work training and practice in Northern Ireland, in particular the findings of the NISCC 2009 Review of the Degree in Social Work which were very positive. Mr Dawson commented on the development of senior practitioner grades in NI to retain the most experienced, best qualified staff in front line service. He appreciated that the mature integrated health and social service in NI has enabled qualified social workers not only to take up senior management positions but to ensure that social work values and wisdom permeate the whole organisation and influence professions with a less holistic approach. 

Information about the tour and BASW’s services for social work practitioners is available from www.basw.co.uk. You can call the BASW NI office on 028 9064 8873

08/07/09

Fostering North South Social Work Relations

NISCC recently hosted a meeting with members of the National Social Work Qualifications Board, who are the recognised authority for the social work profession in Ireland and have responsibility for approving and regulating social work qualifications in Ireland. NISCC and NSWQB meet regularly to discuss social work training in each of their jurisdictions.

NISCC is the only UK social care regulator which has a land border with another European country. Our unique situation means that we have greater levels of workforce mobility between our two countries and we have the opportunity to experience social work training and practice within a European context. Registration and regulation for social care workers is being introduced in Ireland over the next few years. The functions of the NSWQB will be transferred to the Social Work Registration Board within the new regulatory body. Máirtin Ó Faithaigh, NSWQB Chair and Jeremy Harbison, NISCC Chair renewed the commitment of both organisations to share experiences of workforce training, registration and regulation.

More information on NSWQB is available from www.nswqb.ie

08/07/09

First Registrants’ Roadshow

In July 2009, the first NISCC Registrants’ Roadshow was held in Newry. This was the first time that Registrants had an opportunity to meet with the Council and the members of their Registrants’ Committee. This session was lively, challenging and thought provoking for everyone who took part.It demonstrated the need for the Council to continue with similar events to promote the benefits of registration, the Codes of Practice and regulation for a professional social care workforce. The next Roadshow is proposed for January 2010 in the Western Trust area. Details will be published shortly. You can keep up to date via the Registrants’ Committee section of the website which has news and updates from the group. You can send your views to the Registrant’s Committee via email to registrants.committee@nisocialcarecouncil.org.uk

01/07/09

Guide to Case Management in Public Law Proceedings
Reform Implementation Team Resource Pack

The Reform Implementation Team for children’s services has published an information pack and CD Rom for Trust Social Work Staff to give an overview and practice guidance on implementing the July 2009 ‘Guide to Case Management in Public Law Proceedings’. The guide has been published recently by the Northern Ireland Judiciary as a new case management tool for the conduct of public law proceedings in NI and is due to be implemented on 1 October 2009. Copies of the information pack and CD ROM are being distributed to social work staff during a series of workshops across the HSC Trusts.  A Copy of the Judicial ‘Guide to Case Management in Public Law Proceedings’ is available from the Office of Social Services section of the DHSSPS website at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/ssi/oss-childrens-services.htm The Reform Implementation Team can be contacted on 028 9041 7600 extension 150 for further information.

30/06/09

PQ Awards – First Specialist Award in NI

At the June 2009 PQ Award Ceremony the achievements of 112 successful PQ candidates were celebrated.  There was special cause for celebration with the presentation of the first full NI Specialist Award in Social Work to Johanna O’Shea from the Probation Board for NI.  Johanna’s achievement shows how previous learning can be used to achieve an Award.  Johanna initially came to Belfast in 1999 to Queens University of Belfast under the European Erasmus scheme as part of her social work studies.  Following completion of her studies in Berlin in 2000, she returned Ireland, working for a short time in Family and Child Care before returning to her chosen field of criminal justice with the Probation Board.  In 2003, feeling that she needed a framework within which to develop her knowledge of local legislation and processes, Johanna undertook 2 years of part-time study to achieve her MSSc in Criminal Justice from QUB in 2005.

A PQ Award in Social Work was the next step and having sought appropriate guidance Johanna concluded that her MSSc in Criminal Justice lent itself well to the APCL (accreditation of previous certificated learning) route. Johanna appreciated the continuing support of PBNI in supporting her through PQ as they had done for her MSSc, both in contribution to fees and in allowing her study time.  Johanna met all 9 requirements for the specialist award through APCL and completed the full award in October 2008.  She found the experience of completing the award to be challenging, creative and rewarding and would recommend it to other social workers. Congratulations to Johanna and very many thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience with your colleagues.  More information about Post Qualifying Social Work training is available from www.nipqetp.com

29/04/09

Consultation on Post Registration Training and Learning Requirements for NISCC Registered Social Workers

NISCC is reviewing the PRTL requirements for all qualified social workers on the NISCC Social Care Register.  The consultation document has been sent to all Registrants on the Social Work Part of the Social Care Register and their employers.  It was also sent to key stakeholders, including NIPSA, UNISON, BASW, the RQIA and service users and carers.  Further copies of this document can be downloaded from the PRTL and Publications sections of the NISCC website.

We are consulting on a number of proposed changes to the current arrangements in relation to PRTL.

These are:

1. That we introduce new PRTL requirements at significant stages in a social worker’s career.
2. That employers are given an enhanced role in the endorsement of PRTL.
3. That NISCC ceases to routinely collect records of PRTL achievement at the point of renewal of registration and strengthens the system of PRTL audit.
4. That registrants who fail to fully complete PRTL requirements due to exceptional circumstances are no longer automatically referred to the Registration Committee.

Once the consultation period is completed, we will analyse the responses we receive.  We will also publish a document which summarises the comments we receive and explains the decisions we have taken as a result. This will be available on our website.

01/04/09

Excellent Results - Review of the Degree in Social Work Training in NI

All of the courses providing the Honours Degree in Social Work in Northern Ireland have achieved positive assessments in the recent NISCC 5 Yearly Review of their education and training.  The Review found that course provision continues to meet the standards set by the NISCC and these standards are consistent across NI.  The Review also indicates that the introduction of the Degree in Social Work in 2004 has raised the standards of social work considerably.  The Review was conducted in partnership with key stakeholders including course providers, Designated Practice Learning Providers, employers, students, newly qualified social workers and service users and carers.  Copies of the Review Report are available from the Publications section of the NISCC website.  The Review Report and Action Plan to address 35 recommendations for improvement were approved by Council in March 2009.  The major areas for development include:

• A Year 1 project for the 3 year undergraduate route – focussing on skills development, teaching and learning on child protection and vulnerable adults, the most effective use of flexible learning days and the sequencing of Practice Learning Opportunities in the first year of training.
• A review of the role and remit of the NI Degree in Social Work Partnership – the strategic and operational functions of the Partnership.
• Additional Practice Learning Opportunities in Family & Child Care & Adult Services.
• A review of systems to monitor the quality and quantity of Practice Learning Opportunities
• A review of NISCC Rules and Standards.
• Formal systems for obtaining feedback from employers and service users regarding the fitness for purpose of the Degree.
• Future work on diversity and access to the Degree based on improved careers and admissions information.
• Development of a Data Management System, including data from the Degree Partnership Office, from Designated Practice Learning Providers and from Higher Education Institutions on applications, enrolments, progression.

01/04/09

Social Work Works Adverts – now on DVD and MPEGs

In 2001, four NISCC television adverts were aired which promoted social work in NI.  They featured four service users from a range of backgrounds talking about how their social worker made a difference to their lives.  These adverts have been edited and produced on DVD and as MPEG files to be used as part of presentations, or on the web.  The Social Work Works adverts are free for our partners to use for any non-commercial purpose to promote social work training and the profession.  They can be viewed from the Careers section of the NISCC website and can be supplied by email or on disc from the NISCC Information Service.

01/04/09

NI Post Qualifying Education and Training Partnership for Social Work Becomes Part of NISCC

The Northern Ireland Post Qualifying Education and Training Partnership was incorporated with the NISCC on 1 April 2009.  The incorporation is a transfer of staff, management and governance responsibilities to the NISCC, with the PQ Management Board role being undertaken by the new PQ Committee of the NISCC.  To most people using their services, it has been business as usual with staff continuing to monitor standards and provide support to course providers, students and employers.  Behind the scenes, PQ and NISCC staff have been working hard to manage the administrative and management changes required.  The PQ staff are still available at their office on the Ravenhill Road and the website is still www.nipqetp.com