We’re making changes to how social care managers register with us and we’re giving social care workers more time to complete their required qualification.
What's changing?
- Social care workers who don’t have the level 3 qualification can now register as a social care manager if they can show sufficient managerial experience.
- We recognise that many people can complete the qualification in three years, and we still expect that most social care workers will do so. But, all social care workers will have six years to complete the required qualification for their role.
Earlier this year, we asked you what you thought about the changes we wanted to make to registration. We also asked you what you thought about registration requirements for special school residential workers and managers.
We looked at your responses and used your feedback to shape our approach and timeline for making changes to registration.
Registration changes
Registration requirements for social care managers
From October, we’ll accept social care workers who don’t have the level 3 qualification but can show sufficient managerial experience.
Broadly, ‘sufficient managerial experience’ is where a worker has at least three years’ equivalent experience of managing a regulated social care, health or similar setting in the last 10 years. The Registrar will consider each case individually, and the applicant will have to be enrolled on the required management course which will need to be completed within the first three years of registration.
Registration renewal for social care workers
While we still expect most social care workers will achieve the required qualification for their role within three years, all social care workers will now have six years to complete it, if they need it.
We listened to your feedback about the positive effect this change would have for people who work part time, or have protected characteristics or other circumstances that make it difficult to complete the qualification in three years.
We’ve already introduced this change and will update our website shortly.
Commenting on the changes, David Pritchard our Director of Regulation said: “Our consultation has shown strong support for these proposals, and I am grateful for all those who contributed.
"I believe these changes will make registration more straightforward and effective for Wales, and make sure we can continue to attract the very best workforce for social care.”