The Social Workers Regulations 2018

Education and training approval scheme

20.—(1) The regulator must determine and operate a scheme (an “education and training approval scheme”) which complies with this regulation and regulations 21 to 23, for the approval, monitoring, and re-approval, of—

(a) courses of education and training, operated and delivered in England, for persons who wish to become social workers in England (“initial education and training”),

(b) qualifications granted following success in an examination, or other appropriate assessment, taken as part of an approved course of initial education or training,

(c) such tests of knowledge of English, operated and delivered in England, as it may require, and

(d) courses for persons who are, or wish to become, approved to act as approved mental health professionals by a local social services authority whose area is in England, referred to in section 114ZA(1) of the Mental Health Act 1983(1) (“AMHPs courses”).

(2) In these Regulations “approved course of initial education or training” and “approved qualification” mean a course of initial education or training, or a qualification (as the case may be), approved under the education and training approval scheme.

(3) The regulator must keep the education and training approval scheme under review.

(4) The regulator must maintain and publish a list of the courses of initial education and training, qualifications, tests of knowledge of English, and AMHPs courses—

(a) which are for the time being approved under the education and training approval scheme, and

(b) which were, but are no longer, approved under the education and training approval scheme, together with the periods in respect of which they were approved.

(5) Universities and other bodies concerned with the delivery of courses of initial education and training, qualifications, tests of knowledge of English, and AMHPs courses falling within paragraph (1) (“relevant institutions”) must provide the regulator with such information or assistance as the regulator may reasonably require in connection with the exercise of the regulator’s functions under this Part, and within such period as may be specified in the request.

(6) The regulator must make rules setting out the education and training approval scheme which must, in particular—

(a) include criteria for the approval, monitoring, and re-approval, of courses of initial education and training, qualifications, tests of knowledge of English, and AMHPs courses falling within paragraph (1),

(b) ensure that approved courses of initial education and training meet the standards of education or training determined and published by the regulator under section 43(1) of the Act,

(c) require the regulator, before approving or re-approving a course of initial education or training, to be satisfied that the course will enable a person who successfully completes it to meet the professional standards,

(d) require the regulator, before approving or re-approving an AMHPs course, to be satisfied that the course will enable a person who successfully completes it to demonstrate all the Key Competence Areas set out in Schedule 2 to the Mental Health (Approved Mental Health Professionals) (Approval) (England) Regulations 2008(2),

(e) in relation to a course falling within paragraph (1)(a), require the regulator to consult the following in relation to any matters relevant to the approval of the course—

(i) any persons undertaking the course,

(ii) social work service users,

(iii) bodies, other than the relevant institution concerned, that provide any element of the education or training comprised in the course,

(f) set out the information that will be provided to relevant institutions during the approval or re-approval process,

(g) provide for the regulator to—

(i) consider the re-approval of approved courses of initial education and training, qualifications, tests of knowledge of English, and AMHPs courses falling within paragraph (1), at specified intervals of not more than six years, and

(ii) monitor the continued approval of such courses,

(h) set out the procedure for decision making in relation to approval, monitoring, and re-approval,

(i) set out the regulator’s quality assurance process in relation to the approval, monitoring and re-approval of courses of initial education and training, qualifications, tests of knowledge of English, and AMHPs courses falling within paragraph (1), and

(j) include information about the publication of—

(i) reports (including reports of any inspection carried out under regulation 21),

(ii) decisions in relation to approval.

(7) The regulator may operate the education and training approval scheme so as to provide for the approval of courses of education and training for people who are registered social workers.

(1)

1983 c. 20. Section 114ZA was inserted by section 217(2) of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7).

(2)

S.I. 2008/1206. There are amendments to this instrument but none is relevant.