New “Traffic Light” system for regulating social work degrees
7th January 2011
The General Social Care Council (GSCC) has set out plans for a new regulatory system for degrees. All Universities in England which provide the social work degree will face a “traffic-light” system of regulation.
Courses will be rated as either green, amber or red. Red ratings will indicate an automatic inspection is required from officials, and amber means the institution will receive a formal notification of concern, requiring them to provide an explanation within two weeks. This development is seen as an important step in the regulation of social work education.
The government announced in summer 2010 that the GSCC would be abolished by 2012 as part of efforts to reduce spending on quangos. After that point, responsibility for the regulation of social workers in England will pass to the Health Professions Council, and this will include the approval of social work degree courses. Its not yet nown whether the HPC will adopt the model set out by the GSCC.
