New degree level ‘Standard’ for residential child care in Scotland
At the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care’s (SIRCC) conference in June, Ann McSorley, SSSC Senior Adviser in the Workforce Development and Planning Team held a workshop to let people know about The Standard for residential child care in Scotland.
This new standard will allow training providers to develop a degree level qualification that workers in residential child care will need to complete over the next few years.
Background
The National Residential Child Care Initiative (NRCCI) – Higher Aspirations, Brighter Futures was established in 2008 to meet the Scottish Government’s commitment to review residential child care services and recommend required changes. The ambition was to make residential child care the first and best placement of choice for those whose needs it serves.
One of the recommendations made by NRCCI for the workforce was that a degree level qualification would improve the competence and confidence of the workforce and therefore impact positively on the outcomes of children in their care.
The Scottish Government asked the SSSC to develop a benchmark standard for the residential child care workforce, to specify what is expected of a worker registering or registered with the SSSC as a practitioner, supervisor or manager in residential child care.
Download a copy of the Standard for residential child care in Scotland.
View an article from January 2013 to find out more about the background to developing the qualification.
Degree level award
The degree level award includes 360 Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) credit points, typically at SCQF levels 7, 8 and 9 – each at 120 points.
The degree level award:
- builds on and includes existing qualifications such as HNCs and SVQs
- includes recognition of prior learning as a central element
- delivery will be flexible to meet the needs of the workforce and services
- includes a substantial amount of time spent in workplace settings, meaning learning will bound to the work role.
Timescales
Below is the proposed timescale for introducing the new degree but these may change.
| Part of the Register | New requirements phased in from | Time allowed to gain award | All degree qualified by |
| Managers of a residential child care setting and all new starts |
April 2018 or re registration date following that date. |
5 years | 2021 |
| Supervisors of a residential child care setting |
April 2016 or re registration date following that date. |
5 years | 2021 |
| Residential child care workers | April 2018 or re registration date following that date. |
5 years | 2026 |
What’s next?
Along with the Centre for Looked after Children in Scotland (CELCIS), the SSSC will hold a number of events and provide online opportunities for you to hear more about the degree and how you may plan your learning or your employees learning to meet the registration requirement for the new degree.
Find out more about these events and keep up to date with what’s happening in the SSSC by signing up to their e-newsletter at: [email protected]
