Social workers have been urged to renew their registration with Social Work England as soon as possible as there have been changed in the CPD requirements.
Philip Hallam, executive director of regulation at Social Work England, said: “We are asking social workers to renew their registration now, well before 30 November 2022. About 100,000 people are expected to apply and with this year’s changes to the CPD requirements, we’re advising that they give themselves more time.”
Following consultation earlier this year, social workers now have to complete a renewal application online and ensure they have recorded at least two pieces of continuing professional development (CPD), one of which must include a peer reflection.
Mr Hallam explained that the changes made to the CPD requirements have been designed to ensure all social workers are getting the most out of their learning by reflecting on what they have learnt with a peer.
“Social workers are trained professionals devoted to helping vulnerable people and face enormous challenges daily. We acknowledge that this often means that balancing workloads is a huge task, and some may find it difficult to put aside the time to record and keep on top of their continuous professional development,” said Mr Hallam.
“However, CPD is an important aspect of maintaining and developing skills and knowledge for any professional, and the nature and importance of social work practice means that we, on behalf of the public, need to have assurance that all social workers on our register are keeping their skills and knowledge up to date. Also, CPD has many benefits for a social worker, and as such both we and the social work profession think that it shouldn’t be seen as just a tick box exercise. It can help you to grow and develop skills, improve service delivery based on feedback and evidence, and deliver new knowledge and ways of thinking. Completing CPD annually and demonstrating that completion is part of renewing your registration, is both a legal requirement and an aspect of assuring the public that they can have confidence in social workers,” he added.
In order to renew, social workers should complete the following in order to continue to practice:
- apply to renew
- pay a renewal fee
- record two pieces of CPD, including one with a peer reflection
The regulator is also urging every social worker who is on their register to answer questions on equality and diversity when they renew their registration between 1 September and 30 November.
The regulator says this vital data will help them build an accurate picture of the workforce, and to understand and reflect the identity of this complex, often misunderstood and multifaceted profession that improves the lives of millions of people every day.
The closing date for registration renewal is 30 November 2022.
Meanwhile, Social Work England is planning to review the £90 registration fee for social workers.
The regulator revealed its intentions in a consultation on its strategy from 2023 to 2026.
“We will review our current fee structure during this strategic period, to determine if any increase should be applied. We believe this would be reasonable given the fees have not been increased in nearly a decade. Any such review would involve engagement with the profession and ultimately a full public consultation,” said the consultation.
The regulator said it would be mindful of external risks and pressures, including (all of the following):
- challenges to public funding
- inflation pressures impacting our major supplier contracts
- increasing recruitment and retention issues in a potentially higher cost labour market.
The draft strategy is based around three guiding themes: regulation and protection, prevention and impact and delivery and improvement.
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