ACCREDITED SOCIAL WORK QUALIFICATIONS

United Kingdom

(revised on 29/5/2006)

Notes:

  1. The list of recognized qualifications is compiled by Social Workers Registration Board (the Board) based on the best information available at the time of compilation.

  2. The list is compiled for general information and reference only without prejudice to the exercise by the Board of any of its powers and functions in assessing individual social work qualification/training programme. The Board reserves the right to revise the list of recognized qualifications (including making new additions and deletions) as appropriate.

  3. A social work degree or diploma awarded in the U.K. that is accredited by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW) (closed on 30 September 2001) and its succeeding Councils (commenced operation on 1 October 2001), the General Social Care Council (GSCC) of England, the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and Care Council for Wales (CCW) is, in principle, recognized by the Board for registration. In the same manner as the CCETSW, the 4 Councils confer the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) to a person who has satisfactorily completed a social work training programme accredited by them. An applicant for registration, who holds a U.K. qualification, is therefore required to produce documentary proof of both a certificate of a social work qualification awarded by a tertiary institution in the U.K. and a certificate of DipSW awarded by the CCETSW or one of the Councils.

  4. The list is presented in 2 parts, demarcated by the new accreditation system in the U.K. commencing from 2003 or 2004, depending on the region. In England, a new degree approved by the GSCC replaces the DipSW from 2003. The same system will be introduced in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales from 2004.

  5. The qualifications listed in Part 1 are led by the programmes accredited by the CCETSW and the 4 Councils which award the DipSW for the completion of those programmes. The conditions for registration stated under (3) above are applicable to an applicant who holds a qualification led by one of those programmes.

  6. The qualifications listed in Part 2 are led by the new degree programmes accredited by the GSCC as mentioned under (4) above. An applicant for registration, who holds a qualification led by one of those programmes, will be required to produce a copy of the certificate in respect of the qualification awarded by the tertiary institution.

  7. A person who intends to pursue social work studies in the U.K. should assume personal responsibility to verify whether the social work programme to be pursued would be accredited by the Council of the region in the year of graduation. The Board may, where appropriate, examine the U.K. social work qualification held by an applicant for registration on individual basis notwithstanding that such a qualification is currently accredited by an individual Council. In any circumstances, the Board reserves the discretionary power to accredit any qualifications led by the programmes accredited by the Councils.

Enquires should be made to:
General Social Care Council
Address: Goldings House, 2 Hay's Lane, London SE1 2HB, England, U.K.
Telephone: (020) 7397 5100
Fax: (020) 7397 5101
Website: www.gscc.org.uk
E-mail: info@gscc.org.uk

Northern Ireland Social Care Council
Address: 7th Floor, Millennium House, 19-25 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7AQ, North IrelandU.K.
Telephone: 02890 665390
Fax: 02890 669469
Website: www.socialworkworks.org
Email: info@niscc.n-i.nhs.uk

Scottish Social Services Council
Address: Compass House, Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY, Scotland,U.K.
Telephone: 0131 244 1949
Fax: 0131 244 3494
Website: www.sssc.uk.com
Email: enquiries@sssc.uk.com

Care Council for Wales
Address: 6th Floor, Southgate House, Wood Street, Cardiff CF10 1EW, Wales, U.K.
Telephone: 02920 226251
Fax: 02920 384764
Website: www.ccwales.org.uk
Email: info@ccwales.org.uk