(1)The Council shall promote education and training for persons who are, or wish to become—
(a)social workers; or
(b)social service workers of any other description specified in the rules,
and in particular may, in accordance with rules made by it, approve courses for such persons.
(2)An approval given under subsection (1) above may be either unconditional or subject to such conditions as the Council thinks fit.
(3)If it appears to the Council that adequate provision is not being made for further education or training for persons registered in any part of the register maintained by it, the Council shall provide, or secure the provision of, courses for such further education or training.
(4)The Council may—
(a)conduct, or make arrangements for the conduct of, examinations or assessments in connection with such courses as are mentioned in this section; and
(b)carry out, or assist other persons in carrying out, research into matters relevant to such education or training (or further education or training) as is so mentioned.
(1)Subject to subsections (2) to (4) below, the Council may, upon such terms and subject to such conditions as it considers appropriate—
(a)make grants; and
(b)pay travelling and other allowances,
to persons resident in Scotland, in order to secure their education or training in, or education for training in, the work of social service workers.
(2)The Council shall not make grants or pay allowances under subsection (1) above except for such purposes as the Scottish Ministers may direct.
(3)The Scottish Ministers may by directions specify terms and conditions subject to which the Council is to make such grants or pay such allowances.
(4)Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (2) and (3) above, directions under those subsections may specify—
(a)the courses for which, and the categories of students to whom, under subsection (1) above, grants may be made and allowances paid;
(b)maximum amounts to be spent—
(i)on such grants and allowances; and
(ii)on such grants and allowances to any individual; and
(c)the procedures for accounting for expenditure on such grants and allowances.
(5)The Council may make grants to organisations providing such courses as are approved by it under section 54(1) of this Act.