Update on and Expectations of Registered Social Care Workers Ginny Hanrahan CE

2. Update on and Expectations of Registered Social Care Workers Ginny Hanrahan CEO

3. Professional Regulatory Interventions • Improve quality of care • Set standards of competency • Encourage continuing development and education • Identify the competence of the individual practitioner • Reassure the public about the competence of health and social care professionals • Sunderland & Leatherman

4. 5 Principles of Good Regulation • Proportionality • Accountability • Consistency • Transparency • Targeting Sunderland & Leatherman 2006

5. Famous Last Words “In today’s regulatory environment, it is virtually impossible to violate rules” Bernard Madoff

6. CORU’s Purpose “To protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among registrants of the designated professions” (Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005)

7. Professions Governed by HSCPA 2005 • ...and any further professions scheduled by the Minister for Health Clinical Biochemists Dietitians Medical Scientists Occupational Therapists Orthoptists Physiotherapists Podiatrists • Psychologists • Radiographers • Diagnostic and Radiation Therapists • Social Workers • Social Care Workers • Speech & Language Therapists

8. Northern Ireland Social Care Council 1 SCW Peter Parsons 15 April 2011, Misconduct was found against the Registrant and his registration was removed from the NISCC Social Care Register. Falsified documentation as follows: He completed a contact sheet for a service user without having made contact with them; For a second service user, he completed a case file summary sheet without having made contact with them; In respect of third service user, he completed a review sheet and a Case File Summary sheet without having made contact with the service user; and

9. Excerpts from findings Having examined all the evidence, the Committee found the above charges to have been proven and therefore found that Mr Parsons had breached the requirements in the NISCC Code of Practice for him: To be honest, trustworthy, reliable and dependable; To declare conflicts of interest ..that they do not influence his judgement or practice; Not to behave in a way, in work or outside work, which would call into question his suitability to work in social care services. To meet relevant standards of practice and work in a lawful,safe and effective way; To maintain clear and accurate records as required by procedures established for his work;

10. Northern Ireland Social Care Council 2 SCW - Andrew Ian Mackrell A Conduct Committee decided Mr Mackrell breached the NISCC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers.  Whilst employed as a residential child care worker, he was alleged to have acted in an inappropriate manner and exceeded professional boundaries with a service user. Misconduct was found against the Registrant, and his registration was removed from the NISCC Social Care Register.

11. CORU functions Registration Fitness to Practise Code of Professional Conduct & Ethics • COUNCIL • & • REGISTRATION BOARDS CPD Education

12. Council and Registration Boards

13. Social Worker Registration Board Appointed in August 2010 1st Meeting Sept 2010 Register Opened 31st May 2011 Grand parenting 31st May 2013 -National Social Work Qualifications Board Statutory Instruments in place • Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Workers • Approval for Qualifications for Social Workers • Applications for Registration for Social Workers .

14. Social Workers Registration Board Education • Education standards agreed • System of approval and monitoring of courses agreed • Schedule of approval of courses adopted Recognition of qualifications • Competent authority under the Directive • Also recognises 3rd country qualifications Continuing Professional Development (CPD) • CPD not required for initial registration (after 31st May 2013) • Will be introduced once all registrants on the register

16. Social Care Workers Registration Board • When will they be appointed? • Length of time to opening the register after appointment • Registration Process • Education Standards • Code of Professional Conduct & Ethics for Social Workers Grant parenting

17. Grand parenting • Only for 1st 2 years that register is open • Applies to ALL current practitioners who have worked in the last 5 years • New Graduates/ first time workers in Ireland go through standard route • If out of practice over 5 years – Returner to Practise • With Recognised Qualification – standard entry route .

18. Recognised Qualifications Historical Qualifications (Schedule 3 HSCPA 2005) • National Diploma in Child Care HETAC/ DIT • National Diploma in Applied Social Care Studies HETAC/DIT • Diploma of Social Care HETAC/DIT • Diploma of Applied Social Studies/ Social Care DIT • National Diploma in Applied Social Studies (Disability) Open Training College. • Qualifications listed in a Statutory Instrument by the Social Care Workers Registration Board • Non National Qualification Validated by DoH

19. SOCIAL CARE WORKERS REGISTRATION BOARD under the Act can also consider “.. a qualification, that in the opinion of the board, is sufficiently relevant to that profession and is of a standard not lower than the qualification (under Schedule 3) or “successfully completes an assessment of professional competence set by the board in accordance with any guidelines issued by the Council” (HSCPA Section 91)

20. How to register Standard Entry Route Application requirements include - • Qualification • Fit and Proper • Language • Fee

21. Costs of Registration Annual Registration/Application fee €295 New Graduates €100 CORU must be self funding Tax deductible on individual assessment basis

22. Grand parenting –no recognised qualifications Practitioner in the past 5 years prior to the opening date of the register; “Has been engaged in the continuous practice of the profession for 2 years and in the written opinion of the person’s employer is competent in the practice of that profession” • Provides evidence of • Qualification • Professional Experience/proficiency • Conduct and Health Clearance • Identity • Competence Board may require Competence Assessment

23. Social Work Assessment Written Assessment Detailed examination of proof of professional practice – engaged in safe practice Demonstrates competency in each of the six domains in the Standards of Proficiency –as required INTERVIEW

24. Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Workers Respect of the inherent dignity and worth of the person Pursuit of social justice Integrity of professional practice Confidentiality in professional practice Competence in professional practice

25. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions • Maximising the resources available. • Identifying Core parts of your services • Evidence Based Practise • Cost Analysis

26. Guide to ethical decision making • Evaluate the rights, responsibilities and welfare of all affected parties. • Generate as many alternative decisions as possible – the more the better. • Evaluate carefully the likely outcome of each decision.

27. Guide to ethical decision making Define carefully the issues and parties involved. • Scan the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics and identify all relevant clauses. • Check other applicable professional guidelines/policies. • Consult with colleagues.

28. Guide to ethical decision making • Choose what, in your professional judgment, is the best decision, implement it, and inform relevant parties • Keep notes on deliberations at each stage of the process • Finally, take responsibility for the consequences of the decision (based on Psychological Society of Ireland’s adapted code for CORU Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics)

29. Fitness to Practise Must be a registrant Very High % of registrants are “Fit and Proper” Challenge: small number who do not work to/meet the standards of best practice or bring the profession into disrepute Standard of Proof is Criminal: Beyond Reasonable Doubt

30. 1st steps to dealing with complaints Preliminary Proceedings Committee ? Case to answer Grounds for Complaint Poor Professional Performance “any failure of the registrant to meet the standards of competence” Professional Misconduct “act, omission or pattern of conduct…in breach of the code Health Issues - lack of insight or inability to carry out work safely due to health issues Failure to comply with specific terms or legislation Conviction in the State

31. Case to answer - hearings No Member of Preliminary Proceedings Committee CONDUCT Public Majority of Committee Registrants 1 Social Care Worker HEALTH Private + Medical Adviser 1/3 non registrants 1 Social Care Worker

32. If case is proven Report from Committee to Council with recommendations Registration board advise Council on disciplinary action restrictions on practice suspension cancellation prohibition from restoration to register Application to High Court for cancellation of registration Registrant can appeal to the High Court

33. The real world spectrum Intervention Reward Criminal Careless Champion Chancer Confused Compliant needs to be informed Recognise the compliant Reward the champions Effective enforcement needed Enable the confused to comply

34. 2011/2012 Goals Thank you Questions? • Education Team • Council – Registration and Education Committee • SWRB Approval and Monitoring - Q1 • 2 full reviews • 3 biennial monitoring • SWRB Panel of Assessors recruitment and induction • 6 new Registration Boards • www.CORU.ie - develop education section / newsletter • CPD • Records management system • Education IT system • Networks - national/ international relations

35. www.coru.ie