Why is annual renewal so important?

We spoke to our executive director of regulation Phil Hallam to learn more about why registration is important, why we ask social workers to renew on an annual basis and why they need to record CPD.  

 What does it mean to be registered? 

The term ‘social worker’ is a protected title, and as such it is illegal for a person to use it unless they have completed the required training to become registered with us, and unless they maintain their registration. Registration sits at the heart of our role in protecting the public and being registered with Social Work England helps to provide assurance to the public social workers meet the requirements set out through our legislation in order to perform their important role in society. 

Social workers are required to uphold 6 professional standards. These are the core standards that social workers must know, understand and be able to do as part of their role, and in order to maintain their registration. The professional standards are specialist to social workers on our register and apply to social workers in all roles and settings. They were developed with input from a range of people and organisations with an interest in social work and reflect the value and diversity of social work practice and the positive impact it has on people’s lives, families and communities. 

We recently explored the standards on a deeper level through our first podcast series, ‘This Is Social Work’. It showcases the unique knowledge and enthusiasm for and from a profession rooted in public protection, positive change and improving people’s lives, and may be helpful for social workers when recording CPD. 

Why do we have to renew annually?

Annual renewal is important as it provides the public regular 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.  
 
What do I need to do to renew? 

There are just 3 actions that we are asking every social worker to complete in order to continue to practice:

- apply to renew 
- pay a renewal fee 
- record 2 pieces of CPD, including one with a peer reflection 

Note that this year, you will be asked some equality and diversity questions before you apply to renew.  We are doing this to help us to understand the make-up of the register as part of our ongoing work to ensure our processes are fair and equal for all. The action of providing your data is completely voluntary and it is possible for you to proceed to the next section if you prefer. 

What if I don’t want to share my diversity data?  

Any data that you choose to share with us will remain completely anonymous. It has no bearing on your application to renew or the outcome of any fitness to practice concerns, complaints or proceedings. If you don’t wish to share your data, it is possible for you to proceed to the next section if you prefer. 

The CPD requirements have changed, why?   

A: Social workers are trained professionals devoted to helping vulnerable people and face enormous challenges daily. We acknowledge that this often means that balancing workloads is a huge task, and some may find it difficult to put aside the time to record and keep on top of their continuous professional development.  

However, CPD is an important aspect of maintaining and developing skills and knowledge for any professional, and the nature and importance of social work practice means that we, on behalf of the public, need to have assurance that all social workers on our register are keeping their skills and knowledge up to date. Also, CPD has many benefits for a social worker, and as such both we and the social work profession think that it shouldn’t be seen as just a tick box exercise. It can help you to grow and develop skills, improve service delivery based on feedback and evidence, and deliver new knowledge and ways of thinking. Completing CPD annually and demonstrating that completion is part of renewing your registration, is both a legal requirement and an aspect of assuring the public that they can have confidence in social workers. 

 The changes made to the CPD requirements have been designed to ensure all social workers are getting the most out of their learning by reflecting on what they have learnt with a peer. 

 My circumstances have changed, can I ask to be exempt from recording CPD? 

If you wish to remain on the register,  you will need to show us that you can meet all professional standards, and this includes recording CPD. 

This applies to all social workers, even if you are currently not practising or are on extended leave (for example you are on maternity/paternity leave, or long-term medical leave). This is because as a regulated professional, you need to show that you can maintain a safe and effective practice, even if you are not working currently. 

If you are going to be away from social work for a long period of time, why not consider leaving the register voluntarily? When you are ready to practise again, you can apply to have your name restored to the register. 

A reminder that restoration includes additional costs and requirements, and more information about the restoration process can be found here.   

 A change in circumstances has meant I am unable to carry out CPD before the renewal deadline. What should I do?

We recommend that social workers record CPD regularly, at least once every quarter. You have 1 year to carry out any CPD and record it on your online account.  

We recognise that social workers have busy lives and that often it can become difficult to find the time to reflect on your practice. It’s key to bear in mind that CPD can take many forms; it’s not limited to attending training, courses and events. It could be something as simple as listening to a podcast on your way to work, watching a session from Social Work Week on our YouTube channel, or having a conversation and gaining feedback from a peer. The most important thing is that you can tell us what impact the activity has had on your practise. 

To continue to practise as a social worker, it is imperative that you carry out CPD. If you fail to do so, it means that you can’t meet all the professional standards and will not have met all the requirements to renew your registration, therefore you will no longer be permitted to use the protected title of ‘social worker’. 

 What happens if I don’t meet all the renewal requirements?  

Maintaining your registration with Social Work England is a mandatory part of being able to practise as a social worker, so make sure you are regularly recording CPD to ensure a smooth renewal process. You will also need to apply to renew and pay your registration fees. You must meet all the requirements before 30 November.

If you don’t meet all the renewal requirements, this will result in your removal from the register. Anyone searching for your name on the register will see that you have failed to renew your registration, and you will not be able to practise using the protected title.  If you intend to leave the register, you should apply for voluntary removal. If you wish to return to social work, you can then apply to be restored to the register later.