Review of the General Social Care Council

Background

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) is a Non Departmental Public Body established in October 2001. It is responsible for setting standards of conduct and practice for social care workers and their employers, for regulating the workforce and for regulating social work education and training. It is an arms length body of the Department of Health (DH) and also works closely with the Department of Children Schools and Families (DCSF).

This review is concerned with the GSCC’s conduct function, including its effectiveness, efficiency and governance. This review looks at events prior to July 2009 and primarily between April 2007 and April 2009. 1.6 During the course of this review we examined GSCC Council and committee papers, as well as other information supplied by the GSCC. We also audited 102 cases which had been considered by the GSCC under its conduct process in addition to a further 20 cases considered under an earlier audit. We interviewed members of staff and current and former Council members and received information from other parties. We received complete co-operation from everyone currently and formerly at the GSCC from whom we asked for information.