Qualifications needed

Find what qualifications you need to register as a social worker

Social work qualification verification service

We offer a qualification verification service that verifies any approved qualification in social work awarded in Wales (this includes qualifications before the Social Work Degree).

You can request a unique letter that shows:

• the qualification obtained
• qualification date
• training establishment attended
• the name of person who received the award.

Please note that

• this service can take up to 20 working days
• we can only issue letters of verification to the award holder
• we require written consent to send it to an employer or employment agency
• the letter of verification isn’t proof of identity
• the letter isn’t proof that a person is a registered qualified social worker
• employers have a responsibility to check these details.

If you want a letter of verification for a qualification awarded in Wales complete the form below and send to registration@socialcare.wales

The links below list the required qualifications to apply to register as a social care manager. In addition to this route, we have introduced a new route to register to support organisations with a manager vacancy.

Social care workers who hold the relevant level 3 qualification or level 4 USW Certificate in Step up to Management, will now be able to register as a social care manager if you are enrolled on the level 5 management qualification. This will start a new registration cycle and you will have to complete the level 5 by your renewal in 3 years’ time. If you are not already registered with us, you can apply to register at SCWonline.

In addition, social workers, nurses and occupational therapists will now be able to register as a social care manager with a requirement to complete a management qualification within the first three years of your registration. The management qualification must be a minimum of 37 credits, assessed in the workplace and at level 3 or above.

What if I am working in one of these roles but already registered?

You will need to contact us on registration@socialcare.wales and request either a change of registration, or an additional registration.

You will be asked to confirm employment details for the new role and in some cases, we will seek endorsement from a signatory.

• Adoption service manager
• Adult care home manager
  
• Adult placement/shared lives manager
• Advocacy managers (services for children)
• Domiciliary care manager (services for adults)
  
• Domiciliary care manager (services for children)
• Fostering service manager
• Residential child care manager
• Residential family centre manager.

There are three ways to register as an adult care home worker:

1. Register following induction

Workers who are new to social care can register by completing the All Wales induction framework for health and social care (AWIF) or the Social Care Wales Principles and Values Award.

The All Wales induction framework for health and social care (AWIF) is a workbook based course which covers the principles, values, knowledge and skills workers need to carry out their role competently.

What you need to do:

• There are five sections to the AWIF, each section contains progress logs and workbooks to support the worker in their learning.
• The worker will need to complete the workbooks and have these assessed by their manager, who will be able to provide the worker with a certificate of completion.
• Submit the certificate as evidence to support the application to register.

The Social Care Wales Principles and Values Award course and assessment (adults) is a question and answer workbook and online multiple choice assessment that managers will need to nominate a worker to complete. The worker will receive email notification of this with joining instructions.

What you need to do:

• When the worker has successfully completed the course and assessment, submit the certificate as evidence to support the application to register.
• Once registered, the worker will need to complete a required practice qualification by the time they have to renew their registration in three years’ time.

2. Register with a qualification

For workers who have a qualification Level 2 or 3 in health and social care (Diploma, QCF or NVQ) or equivalent.

What you need to do:

• Check that your qualification is accepted for registration
• apply to register on SCWonline.

3. Register with experience if you don't have a required qualification

For workers who have worked for three of the past five years in a relevant social care role but have no recognised qualification. Managers will assess workers against the required competencies and provide a signed declaration to confirm your competence as a lawful, safe and effective practitioner.

What you need to do:

• Get your competence certified by your manager.
• Once your manager has confirmed your competence, apply to register on SCWonline.

There are three ways to register as a domiciliary care workers.

1. Register following induction

Workers who are new to social care can register by completing the All Wales induction framework for health and social care (AWIF) or the Social Care Wales Principles and Values Award.

The All Wales induction framework for health and social care (AWIF) is a workbook based course which covers the principles, values, knowledge and skills workers need to carry out their role competently.

What you need to do:

• There are five sections to the AWIF, each section contains progress logs and workbooks to support the worker in their learning.
• The worker will need to complete the workbooks and have these assessed by their manager, who will be able to provide the worker with a certificate of completion.
• Submit the certificate as evidence to support the application to register.

The Social Care Wales Principles and Values Award course and assessment is a question and answer workbook and online multiple choice assessment that managers will need to nominate a worker to complete. The worker will receive email notification of this with joining instructions.

What you need to do:

• When the worker has successfully completed the course and assessment, submit the certificate as evidence to support the application to register.
• Once registered, the worker will need to complete a required practice qualification by the time they have to renew their registration in three years’ time.

2. Register with a qualification

For workers who have a qualification Level 2 or 3 in health and social care (Diploma, QCF or NVQ) or equivalent.

What you need to do:

• Check that your qualification is accepted for registration in services for adults or if working in services for children and young people
• apply to register on SCWonline.

3. Register with experience if you don't have a required qualification

For workers who have worked for three of the past five years in a relevant social care role but have no recognised qualification. Managers will assess workers against the required competencies and provide a signed declaration to confirm your competence as a lawful, safe and effective practitioner.

What you need to do:

• Get your competence certified by your manager.
• Once your manager has confirmed your competence, apply to register on SCWonline.

There are two ways to register as a residential child care worker:

1. Register following induction

Workers who are new to social care can register by completing the All Wales induction framework for health and social care (AWIF) or the Social Care Wales Principles and Values Award.

The All Wales induction framework for health and social care (AWIF) is a workbook based course which covers the principles, values, knowledge and skills workers need to carry out their role competently.

What you need to do:

• There are five sections to the AWIF, each section contains progress logs and workbooks to support the worker in their learning.
• The worker will need to complete the workbooks and have these assessed by their manager, who will be able to provide the worker with a certificate of completion.
• Submit the certificate as evidence to support the application to register.

The Social Care Wales Principles and Values Award course and assessment (children and young people) is a question and answer workbook and online multiple choice assessment that managers will need to nominate a worker to complete. The worker will receive email notification of this with joining instructions.

What you need to do:

• When the worker has successfully completed the course and assessment, submit the certificate as evidence to support the application to register.
• Once registered, the worker will need to complete a required practice qualification by the time they have to renew their registration in three years’ time.

2. Register with a qualification

For workers who have a qualification Level 3 in health and social care (Diploma, QCF or NVQ) or equivalent.

What you need to do:

• Check that your qualification is accepted for registration
• apply to register on SCWonline.

1. Register following induction

Workers who are new to social care can register by completing the All Wales induction framework for health and social care (AWIF) or the Social Care Wales Principles and Values Award.

The All Wales induction framework for health and social care (AWIF) is a workbook based course which covers the principles, values, knowledge and skills workers need to carry out their role competently.

What you need to do:

• There are five sections to the AWIF, each section contains progress logs and workbooks to support the worker in their learning.
• The worker will need to complete the workbooks and have these assessed by their manager, who will be able to provide the worker with a certificate of completion.
• Submit the certificate as evidence to support the application to register.

The Social Care Wales Principles and Values Award course and assessment (children and young people) is a question and answer workbook and online multiple choice assessment that managers will need to nominate a worker to complete. The worker will receive email notification of this with joining instructions.

What you need to do:

• When the worker has successfully completed the course and assessment, submit the certificate as evidence to support the application to register.
• Once registered, the worker will need to complete a required practice qualification by the time they have to renew their registration in three years’ time.

2. Register with a qualification

For workers who have a qualification Level 3 in health and social care (Diploma, QCF or NVQ) or equivalent.

What you need to do:

• Check that your qualification is accepted for registration
• apply to register on SCWonline.

If you have a question or if you can't find what you are looking for get in touch with us.