Conduct and practice of registered workers
Protecting service users and the public and upholding standards in the social care sector is an important task. Taking action when a registered social care worker does not meet the standards set in the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers will mean better services for those using social care and improve the general public’s confidence in social care services.
What information will the Care Council for Wales deal with?
The Care Council can investigate information about social care workers who are registered with the Care Council. If the information shows that the registrant in question has not met the standards set in the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers the Care Council will investigate the matter. You can check whether a social worker has registered by searching the Register.
What about other complaints?We will investigate matters that relate to the conduct of a registered social care worker or registered social work student which questions their suitability to remain on the register. We will not be able to investigate general employment issues such as sickness, time keeping or matters relating to the level of service offered or received by a service user.
We will not be able to investigate concerns about care workers who are not registered with the Care Council for Wales. However, we will still want to hear about your concern. We may hold such information on record and inform the care worker that we are holding the information. The details will be taken into account if that person applies for registration in the future.
If you have a concern about a social care establishment, for example a Children’s Home or Adult Residential Home, please contact the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales.
If the information you have is regarding a social care worker who is not registered with the Care Council, in the first instance, you should contact the employer and use their complaints procedure to complain about them. Here you will find guidance on how to lodge a complaint.
What happens if information is given to the Care Council for Wales?
If we receive information that states a registered social care worker may not have met the standards set in the Code of Practice the Care Council may investigate the matter according to the Care Council for Wales Conduct Rules 2005.
What happens next?
We will look carefully at all the information we receive. If it is clear that the information is about a registered social care worker and calls into question their suitability to remain on the register, the matter is referred to a Preliminary Proceedings Committee for consideration.
Can the social care worker appeal the decision made against them?
The social care worker can appeal against a Conduct Committee decision by appealing to the First-tier Tribunal (Care Standards).