Adult care home workers
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 seven sections to the AWIF, each section has a progress log and a workbook to support the worker in their learning.
- Details on how to complete the AWIF can be found in our qualification guidance pages
- On completing the AWIF the registered manager can provide you with a certificate of completion.
- 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.
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:
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.
Domiciliary care workers
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 seven sections to the AWIF, each section has a progress log and a workbook to support the worker in their learning.
- Details on how to complete the AWIF can be found in our qualification guidance pages
- On completing the AWIF the registered manager can provide you with a certificate of completion.
- 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.
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.
Residential child care workers
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 seven sections to the AWIF, each section has a progress log and a workbook to support the worker in their learning.
- Details on how to complete the AWIF can be found in our qualification guidance pages
- On completing the AWIF the registered manager can provide you with a certificate of completion.
- 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.
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 3 in health and social care (Diploma, QCF or NVQ) or equivalent.
What you need to do:
Residential family centre 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 seven sections to the AWIF, each section has a progress log and a workbook to support the worker in their learning.
- Details on how to complete the AWIF can be found in our qualification guidance pages
- On completing the AWIF the registered manager can provide you with a certificate of completion.
- 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.
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 3 in health and social care (Diploma, QCF or NVQ) or equivalent.
What you need to do:
Social care managers
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 4 or 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.
Social workers
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
Contact us
If you have a question or if you can't find what you are looking for get in touch with us.