Question reference: S5W-06586
- Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 27 January 2017
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Current status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 7 February 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what statutory (a) training is and (b) qualifications are required for social care workers who support terminally-ill people.
Answer
Social workers in Scotland must hold a BA (Hons) in Social Work (or equivalent) and register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to practice as a social worker. Social care workers in Scotland who are within the scope of registration with the SSSC must achieve the accredited qualification required for the role they undertake.
In accordance with the SSSC Codes of Practice, employers are responsible for ensuring that their staff have the skills and knowledge to carry out their role and continuously update their skills to reflect changes in practice and policy.
Although not a statutory requirement a commitment has been made in the Strategic Framework for Action on Palliative and End of Life Care 2016-2021 to develop an Education Framework for palliative and end of life care to address the needs of the health and social care workforce.