The Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC) serves as the regulatory body for social work, social care, and workforce focused on children and young people in Scotland. Their efforts ensure that the people of Scotland can rely on social work, social care, and services for children and young people, all delivered by a trusted, skilled, confident, and valued workforce.
In Scotland, over 208,000 individuals contribute to social services, including social care workers, social workers, social work students, and professionals working with children and young people across various care settings, such as residential and day centers, community facilities, and private homes. We uphold public safety by:
- Registering this workforce
- Establishing standards for practice, conduct, training, and education
- Support ongoing professional development
When individuals do not meet the required standards of practice and conduct, they have the authority to investigate and take appropriate action.
They also:
- Publish national codes of practice for those in social work, social care, and services for children and young people, as well as for their employers
- Ensure compliance with our codes of practice
- Promote and regulate learning and development opportunities
- Lead workforce development and planning for this sector in Scotland
- Provide national statistics related to the workforce.