New qualification for Scottish residential child care workers
The Scottish Government have announced a new qualification for residential child care workers
The Standard for Residential Child Care is the new benchmark which will underpin the development and delivery of Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 9 qualifications for the residential child care workforce.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) developed the Standard at the request of the Scottish Government following the recommendations of the Higher Aspirations, Brighter Futures – National Residential Child Care Initiative (NRCCI) Report, 2009.
Gaining the new qualification will be a requirement of SSSC registration for the residential child care workforce. Managers, supervisors and all new starts in residential child care will be the first group required to achieve the new qualification followed by workers.
The recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a key principle underpinning the Standard and will make a significant contribution to gaining the required number of credits at SCQF level 9 for the existing workforce.
Timescales
|
Who |
When |
How long do you have to gain it? |
|
Managers and supervisors |
From October 2017 |
Five years from the date of your re-registration |
|
New starts |
From October 2017 |
Five years from date you register |
|
Workers |
From October 2019 |
Five years from the date of your re-registration |
For example:
- a manager due to renew their registration in 2018 would have until 2023
- a new worker registering after October 2017 would have until 2022
- a worker due to renew their registration in 2021 would have until 2026.
Welcoming the announcement, Chief Executive of the SSSC, Anna Fowlie said: “The introduction of a new degree level qualification in residential child care is an important development. It makes a significant contribution to making sure that the workforce in residential child care build upon their skills and knowledge to help meet the recognised complex needs of looked after children and young people in Scotland.
“Along with colleagues from the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS) we have been working with the sector over the past two years to explain what the new Standard for Residential Child Care will mean for workers and employers and look forward to continuing to support development of the qualification.”
