Introduction
Why have we revised CPL?
What has changed?
What are we asking?
Information to help you
Respond to the consultation
Online information sessions
Future Proofing Programme
Introduction
This Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) consultation is on the new requirements for continuous professional learning (CPL). We want to hear views from the social work, social care, children and young people workforce, Care Inspectorate inspectors, employers and other stakeholders on our proposal.
Why have we revised CPL?
Everyone registered with the SSSC must complete CPL to keep their knowledge, skills and practice up to date and to maintain their registration.
We’ve reviewed the CPL requirements to provide a more flexible approach and make sure that registrants have the right skills at the right time in their career journeys to help people live the lives they want.
We worked with employers, registrants and other key stakeholders over several months to co-design the new CPL process to make sure it meets their needs and supports workforce learning and development.
What has changed?
The proposed new CPL process includes:
- an annual registrant declaration that they’ve completed their CPL
- moving away from the current process of recording hours/days of learning
- a focus on key skills and knowledge needed at different stages of the career journey
- essential skills and knowledge requirements for each Register group
- new requirements for newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) to support the roll-out of the mandatory supported first year of practice
- the flexibility to revise requirements to respond to emerging skills gaps
- the development of return to practice requirements for social workers
- return to practice requirements for function-based workers (all Register parts except social workers and social work students).
The changes will allow a more flexible approach to learning and development and make it easier to respond to emerging skills needs and gaps in different parts of the workforce.
What are we asking?
We want your views on:
- whether the CPL process is clear
- the proposed pathways for registrants
- the proposed core learning elements
- whether some learning should be mandatory
- what specialist pathways we might include
- if there’s anything else we should add.
It should take you no more than 20 minutes to respond.
Information to help you
We’ve provided full details of the new CPL process, the principles, pathways, core learning elements and suggested learning in the document below.
Download the CPL principles and overview document here
This includes example diagrams to help you understand how the pathways will direct you to the relevant learning depending on the stage of your career, your job role level and the Register part you’re on.
The consultation examples show the pathway for people who are new to their role. When we introduce the new CPL requirement there will be pathways for each career stage, job role level and Register part.
- Social care workforce support worker – I am new to my role pathway.
- Children and young people workforce support worker – I am new to my role pathway.
- Social worker – I am new to my role pathway.
Respond to the consultation
Consultation closed.
Future Proofing Programme
The CPL review is part of our Future Proofing Programme which also includes changes to the Register, qualifications, the introduction of return to practice requirements for social workers and the Codes of Practice review.