The General Social Care Council (Transfer of Register and Abolition—Transitional and Saving Provision) Order of Council 2012

Approval of standards, courses, etc.

14.—(1) The required standard of proficiency in relevant social work described immediately before 1st August 2012 in rules made by the GSCC under section 63(6) of the Care Standards Act 2000 has effect from that day as if it had been established under article 5(2)(a) of the 2001 Order as being the standard of proficiency necessary to be admitted to Part 16 of the HCPC register.

(2) The following are to be treated from 1st August 2012 as an approved qualification for the purposes of article 12(1)(a) of the 2001 Order(1)—

(a) the satisfaction of requirements as to training imposed before 1st August 2012 by virtue of section 58(2)(a)(iii) of the Care Standards Act 2000 (which relates to a condition for the grant of registration under that Act as a social worker);

(b) the successful completion of a course in relevant social work which was immediately before 1st August 2012 one approved by the GSCC by virtue of section 63(1) of the Care Standards Act 2000 (approval of courses).

(3) Paragraph (2)(b) also applies to courses treated immediately before 1st August 2012 as approved by the GSCC by virtue of article 5(2)(a) of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (Transfer Scheme) Order 2001(2) as it applies to courses approved by the GSCC by virtue of section 63(1) of the Care Standards Act 2000.

(4) An adaptation period or aptitude test required of an applicant by the GSCC before 1st August 2012 by virtue of section 64(A1) of the Care Standards Act 2000 (qualifications gained outside a Council’s area where applicant is an exempt person under General Systems Regulations)(3) is to be treated from that day as being one required by virtue of article 12(1)(b) of the 2001 Order(4).

(5) The successful completion of training elsewhere than in England in relevant social work which was immediately before 1st August 2012 recognised by the GSCC as being to a standard sufficient for registration in the principal part of the GSCC register for the purposes of section 64(1) of the Care Standards Act 2000(5) (qualifications gained outside a Council’s area) is to be treated from that day as—

(a) a qualification as to which the HCPC is satisfied for the purposes of article 12(1)(c)(i) of the 2001 Order (if the training was outside the United Kingdom), or

(b) training which the HCPC recognises for the purposes of article 12(1)(d)(i) of that Order(6) (if the training was in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland).

(6) The successful completion of additional training required before 1st August 2012 by the GSCC under section 64(1)(b)(ii) of the Care Standards Act 2000 (additional training) is to be treated from that day as training which satisfies the HCPC for the purposes of sub-paragraph (c)(ii) or (d)(ii) of article 12(1) of the 2001 Order.

(7) Further training which was immediately before 1st August 2012 required by virtue of section 65 of the Care Standards Act 2000(7) (post-registration training) is to be treated from that day as if it were—

(a) continuing professional development specified by the HCPC in standards under article 19(1) of the 2001 Order, unless the training related to an approved mental health professional, or

(b) a course approved by the HCPC by virtue of section 114ZA(1) of the Mental Health Act 1983(8) (approval of courses–England), in the case of an approved mental health professional.

(8) Nothing in this article prevents the exercise by the HCPC from 1st August 2012 of its powers under the 2001 Order in relation to any standard, qualification, course, training or continuing professional development mentioned in this article.

(1)

Article 12 relates generally to approved qualifications and has been amended by S.I.2007/3101.

(2)

S.I. 2001/2561. Article 5(2)(a) treats as approved by the GSCC and other bodies certain courses previously approved by Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, until such time as the GSCC (etc.) determines that such courses are not recognised by it.

(3)

Section 64(A1) was inserted by S.I. 2007/3101, which also made other amendments to section 64.

(4)

Sub-paragraph (b) of article 12(1) was substituted by S.I. 2007/3101.

(5)

Section 64(1) was amended by S.I. 2007/3101.

(6)

Sub-paragraph (d) of article 12(1) was inserted by the 2012 Act, section 215(7).

(7)

Section 65 was amended by S.I. 2007/3101.

(8)

1983 c.20. Section 114ZA is inserted by section 217(2) of the 2012 Act.