The SSSC was set up after years of campaigning by many in social services for a body that would raise the status of the thousands of committed social service workers and put them on an equal footing with other regulated professionals.
We were created under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 by the then Scottish Executive to protect people who use services, raise standards of practice and strengthen and support the professionalism of the workforce. We are a non-departmental public body - an arm's length organisation responsible to Scottish Ministers.
One of the first things we did was to produce the SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers, which set out the standards social service workers and employers should meet.
We opened the SSSC Register on 1 April 2003 and now have over 60,000 workers on our Register. That will grow to around 120,000 by 2020.
We have also produced a huge range of workforce development and planning tools and resources over the years such as the Continuous Learning Framework, and are now at the forefront of digital learning in public services.
Our vision
Our vision means the people of Scotland can count on social services being provided by a trusted, skilled and confident workforce.
We will achieve this by working towards the following outcomes during 2014-2017:
- there is a safe, skilled, confident and flexible social service workforce with the appropriate values, knowledge, skills and qualifications for current and future sector needs
- the SSSC is influential in policy making and in the social services sector
- the social service workforce is valued
- qualifications for social service workers are fit for purpose
- the right people are on the SSSC Register
- the SSSC’s resources, products and activities support the development of the workforce and increase its capacity and capability
- the SSSC is recognised as a well-run, well governed and effective organisation.
Our central aim is improvement; improving the outcomes and experiences of people who use social services through a skilled, confident and trusted workforce.
We will see many changes over the next few years with significant policy developments affecting the social service workforce, their roles and the skills they require, including:
- public service reform
- integration of health and social care
- Getting It Right for Every Child and the early years agenda
- self-directed support
- fair work
- reducing offending
- employability
- community empowerment.
With our partners, we are ready to face the challenging times ahead.
Fitness to Practise Department
The Director of Fitness to Practise is a key member of the Executive Management Team (EMT) along with the Chief Executive, Director of Corporate Services, Director of Sector Development and Head of Strategic Performance and Engagement.
With a key responsibility to protect people who use services and their carers by registering and regulating specific groups of social service workers, the Fitness to Practise Department investigates concerns about social service workers. The vast majority of social service workers follow the conduct and practices set out in the SSSC Code of Practice however, we can take action against registered workers who do not.
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