Top tips for renewing your registration

November is one of the most important months in a social worker’s diary, the time when annual renewals is upon us and reminders to record CPD appear in social media feeds and email inboxes.    

One of the most important pieces of advice we can give, and continue to remind social workers of each year, is to start early when it comes to renewal and recording CPD. An interesting point to note is that last year, social workers took on average at least 45 minutes to complete their application to renew, mostly because they were recording a piece of CPD during the process.  

CPD and renewals need not be a laborious task, we have made the process as simple as possible. You can save your submission as you work so you don’t have to do everything in one go. You can break it down into smaller tasks so you can apply to renew and record your CPD over several short sessions. 

Preparation is key 

To ensure you record 2 unique pieces of quality CPD, including at least one with a peer reflection, preparation is key. Social workers should complete the renewals process as soon as possible to enable any queries that might arise are resolved in good time.  

Logging on to your online account at the last minute can present many challenges, not just from the technological or system perspective, but from the unnecessary stress it may cause too. Social workers who leave it to the last minute may find that it takes longer to log in or save their progress due to an increase in online traffic. While we have taken measures for this, there is a limit to the capacity our systems can handle. 

Helpful tips 

We receive numerous enquiries each year during the renewals period, many often asking the same questions. We’ve put together some answers to the most frequent enquiries below, so take some time to check and remind yourself of the following points: 

• You must complete your CPD, application to renew and pay your registration fee by 30 November. 
• Ensure that you have recorded 2 unique pieces of CPD, one of which includes a peer reflection.
• A CPD form must be filled out for each piece of CPD you record. So, for 2 pieces of CPD, you will fill out the form twice – one for each. 
• CPD can be any activity that would benefit your practice. CPD does not have to be formal training or an activity that happens in the workplace. Consider independent types of learning, such as reading articles, listening to podcasts, or attending webinars. You can visit our website to find out more about the different types of CPD.  
• The system will time out after 60 minutes. To avoid losing your CPD recording, type it out on a word processing document first, then copy and paste your work into the CPD form. You can find the questions on the CPD form on our website. 
• If you do not wish to renew your registration, please submit a request for voluntary removal via your online account. You must also ensure your Direct Debit is cancelled via your online account and/or bank. 
• Check you have submitted your registration renewal form to complete your renewal application. You can do this by going to your renewal form, reviewing the details and submitting the declaration to complete your renewal. 
• If you receive an email from us informing you that you have not completed your application to renew, double check that you have done enough CPD or peer reflection and have submitted your renewal application form. 
• When you log in to your online account, your account overview will show if you have completed your application to renew. If you have not completed your application to renew, the account overview will show the actions you need to take. 
• If you are a social worker who joined the register after 1 September 2022, you must still pay the annual fee. 
• If you joined the register before 1 September this year, you still need to meet the CPD requirements. This means you must record 2 pieces of CPD, one of which must include peer reflection, by 30 November.  
• The requirements apply even if you are away from work for an extended period due to long-term leave, compassionate leave or if you are not currently working.   
• The renewal period ends on 30 November 2022. We will contact you on or after 1 December 2022 to confirm your registration status. 

It's your responsibility as a social worker to renew your registration annually, as it provides the public assurance that you meet the requirements to remain on the register. These requirements include a declaration that you continue to meet the professional standards, and that you can continue to practise safely and effectively. Annual renewal also allows us to demonstrate to the public that as part of maintaining registration, social workers are continually learning and developing their own skills and knowledge through CPD.   

CPD is a powerful learning tool, it improves skills and understanding, enhances abilities and ensures that your practice remains up to date. CPD can range from attending courses to reflecting on your practice or a piece of research, anything that has had a constructive impact on your practice and development. 

We’re here to help and want to make sure that your renewals journey is a positive one. Remember that the work you do to protect the public, enable positive change, and improve people’s lives is vital. If you haven’t already, log on to your online account to complete your application to renew today. 

Useful resources  

• CPD guidance - Social Work England  
• How to record CPD (including tutorial video)  
• CPD information page on our website  
• Advice on peer reflection (including example scenarios)  
• Blog on how to record CPD during extended leave  
• Read more about the CPD you could do to show that you meet the CPD standard.