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PROPOSED REGISTRATION FEE LEVELS AND POST- REGISTRATION TRAINING AND LEARNING REQUIREMENTS

UNISON Scotland's response to the Scottish Social Services Council consultation on Proposed Registration Fee Levels and Post Registration Training and Learning Requirements for Early Education and Child Care Workers and Adult Residential Care Workers

June 2006

Executive Summary

  • UNISON Scotland is very supportive of the practice of registration for social services staff, including those employed in early education and child care and adult residential care services.
  • UNISON Scotland has always had concerns at the practice of charging workers for registration.
  • We believe that the various pay levels of workers have not been taken into account especially the very low paid and part-time workers and feel that a lower or pro rata rate should be applied to these workers.

  • UNISON Scotland welcomes the proposals for all registered workers to undertake PRTL and the requirement of their employers to support them to do so.

  • We believe that the proposed amount of PRTL is acceptable but this needs to be flexibly applied to accommodate staff with different working practices

  • We believe that an important pre-requisite for all staff undertaking PRTL is the availability of additional resources to allow for back-filling of posts whilst the training is in progress and urge the SSSC to ensure that this is applied

Introduction

UNISON is Scotland's largest trade union representing over 150,000 members working in the public sector. UNISON Scotland represents 25,000 workers from social services throughout Scotland, with members employed as social workers, home care workers, residential care workers, welfare rights workers, early years staff and others administrating and supporting the social work team. Whilst most of our social services workers are employed by Local Authorities, we also represent a substantial number who work in the private and voluntary sector.

UNISON Scotland is very supportive of the practice of registration for social services staff, including those employed in early education and child care and adult residential care services.

Response

Proposed fee levels for both Early Education and Child Care Workers and Adult Residential Care Workers

UNISON Scotland has always had concerns at the practice of charging workers for registration and indeed, many of our workers believe that having achieved recognised qualifications, they should not have to pay more money to SSSC for the process of being registered. We note that the Scottish Executive has agreed to contribute towards the costs of the initial registration but nevertheless, believe that the level is still too high, particularly when the cost of the Enhanced Disclosure Scotland check is included. We believe that the various pay levels of workers have not been taken into account especially the very low paid and part-time workers and feel that a lower or pro rata level should be applied to these workers. However, we welcome the registration period being set at five years, which will lower the costs considerably over this period.

 

Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL)

UNISON Scotland welcomes the proposals for all registered workers to undertake PRTL and the requirement of their employers to support them to do so. There is currently a huge disparity in the levels and standard of training opportunities available. As continuous professional development enhances service delivery, employers must ensure that a range of high quality training, which includes and allows for career progression, is available for all staff

We believe that the amount of PRTL is acceptable, but would emphasise that this needs to be flexibly applied to accommodate shift patterns, part-time working, etc. and needs to be readily available.

We believe that an important pre-requisite for all staff undertaking PRTL is the availability of additional resources to allow for back-filling of posts whilst the training is in progress and urge the SSSC to ensure that this is applied.

For further information please contact:

Matt Smith, Scottish Secretary

UNISON Scotland

UNISON House

14, West Campbell Street,

Glasgow G2 6RX

Tel 0845 355 0845 Fax 0141 342 2835

e-mail matt.smith@unison.co.uk

 

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