12.There is no comprehensive regulation of the social services workforce at present. Nor is an appropriate framework in place to support and enhance the professionalism of the workforce.
13.The Act provides for the regulation of the social services workforce, by establishing the Scottish Social Services Council. The Council will regulate the education and training of social service workers and raise standards through the publication of codes of conduct and practice. For the first time a national register of social services staff will be set up and maintained by the Council. The Act also provides for the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW) to cease its functions in Scotland. It currently regulates education and training in social work throughout the UK. CCETSW’s functions will transfer to the Council, as will the functions of the Scottish arm of the National Training Organisation, the Training Organisation for the Personal Social Services.
14.The Act sets out the functions and powers of the Council. The Council’s main functions will be to publish codes of practice and conduct, establish registers of particular groups in the workforce and to regulate their conduct, education and training.