Social care managers as leaders have responsibility to ensure the provision of high-quality care and support services.
Managers are expected:
- to lead person-centred, ethical and inclusive services,
- support and promote individual’s well-being, rights and independence.
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Registration and Standards
As a registered social care manager, you are required to work to the Standards of Conduct and Practice for Social Care Practitioners which are binding on all social care practitioners.
To maintain your registration with the Social Care Council and to evidence that you are meeting your Standards of Conduct and Practice you must undertake and record a minimum of 90 hours of continuous learning and development during each registration period (every 3 years for social care managers) – this is called Post Registration Training and Learning or PRTL.
Completing continous professional learning or CPL supports you to evidence you are meeting the following standards:
- Standard of Conduct 6: As a social care worker, you must be accountable for the quality of your work and take responsibility for maintaining and improving your knowledge and skills.
- Standard of Practice 6: Develop yourself as a social care worker.
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The Care in Practice (CiP) Framework
A new Care in Practice (CiP) Framework has been developed and launched to support social care practitioners and managers to develop professionally by providing two interlinked pathways:
- a continuous professional learning pathway, and
- a qualification pathway to support your career progression.
CiP provides a flexible continuous learning framework and qualifications pathway that puts you in charge of your continuous professional learning.
This can include the following:
- Through life, learned experience and work.
- Having conversations/listening, observing, reading, questioning, mentoring and coaching (this can be with your peers and/or managers).
- Undertaking qualifications.
- Attending in-house and other training.
- Undertaking digital learning for e.g. Learning Zone and SCIE
- Supervision/one-to-ones.
If you are a registered manager you are required to have completed a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (Adult Management) or Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (Adult Residential Management) to meet the Department of Health’s Minimum Standards requirements if you do not already hold a social work, nursing or an allied health professional qualification.
Social care leaders/managers should have access to opportunities to develop and attain higher level leadership and management training and qualifications similar to other professionals working in the health and social care system.
Go to Social Care Manager/Leader | CIP Framework to learn more.
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New to Social Care Management
If you are a new manager, the Social Care Council has developed guidance to help you build your confidence, knowledge and skills to succeed in your job and support your staff.
The Managers Induction Programme outlines key areas of a manager’s responsibility including how to support colleagues and teams maintain and improve the quality of care and support provided.
The Induction Programme for Social Care Practitioners Workers – Guidance for Managers – this guide provides sample questions and managers’ notes to help you use the Social Care Council Induction Programme effectively with your employees and support new staff through their induction.
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Social Care Managers Forums
To support social care managers, the Social Care Council provides two regional Social Care Managers Forums each year, usually in May and November. Locations are chosen to maximise participation across NI, with the May and November events being repeated once within a short timescale.
The events are free to attend and a lunch is provided.
These events provide an opportunity to:
- Share innovation and good practice.
- Get updates from the Social Care Council on the Care in Practice (CiP) Framework, Review of Qualifications, National Occupational Standards (NOS) and new Learning Zone resources.
- Listen to presentations delivered by the RQIA, social care employers and other relevant stakeholders.
- Learn about other research and initiatives that can support the social care sector.
- Engage and network with social care managers/peers.
Click here to access the presentations delivered at recent Forums.
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Learning Zone Resources
The Social Care Council have developed a range of resources to support your continuous professional learning and development journey including digital guides and learning resources providing you with more information about registration, standards and induction as follows:
- Towards Safe, Effective and Compassionate Care – a resource to support employers and managers promote and celebrate excellent behaviour and minimise behaviours not in keeping with the Standards of Conduct and Practice.
- Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace for Managers.
- PRTL Requirements for Social Care Practitioners and Managers.
Scroll down to access these resources or go to Learning Resources to find out more.
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More Information and Guidance
See Associated Resources for quick access to key guidance documents and forms.