Opening of Social Workers Register

Tomorrow (31^st May 2011) is a significant day for social workers and other health and social care professionals as it is the day that the Social Workers Registration Board opens the Social Workers Register.  From this day, CORU will accept applications from those wishing to register as a social worker. This is the first step in the regulation of social workers as a profession and will afford significant new protections to both the profession and the public. 

Health and social care professionals and their professional bodies have campaigned for the statutory regulation of their professions for many years and have welcomed its arrival.  Practising social workers will have up to two years to register, giving everyone currently working in the profession ample time to make the transition to statutory regulation. 

By May 31^st 2013 all social workers will be required to be registered and only registered social workers will be allowed to use the protected title of social worker. To register, social workers will have to comply with the registration criteria (listed below) and agree to comply with the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Workers.  The public will be able to check online whether their social worker is registered.

Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics

The new Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Workers was prepared following consultation by the Social Workers Registration Board with the general public, social workers, their professional and representative bodies and employers. It specifies the standards of ethics, performance and conduct required of registered social workers in a clear and accessible manner. 

Under the new code social workers will have a responsibility to express any concerns they have in an appropriate way and to advocate for the fair distribution of resources based on identified levels of risk and need. The social worker’s overriding professional obligation will be to the Code, which will guide and support the social workers in maintaining high professional standards

Fitness to Practise

The fitness to practise regime will be introduced within two years. This will allow concerned members of the public to make a complaint about a registered social worker. If upheld, disciplinary sanctions can be imposed, including removing the person from the register. 

The name of every registered social worker will be published in the register, which will be accessible online. Only social workers who have satisfied the board that they hold an approved qualification and are “fit and proper” to engage in the practise of the profession will be entered on the register.

Registration Fees

In line with Government policy, CORU as a new regulatory body must become self-financing to avoid being a burden on the exchequer.  The application fee is €295.  Applicants who graduated within the two years prior to applying for registration will be charged a reduced fee of €100.  

The annual registration fee to be charged in future years will be determined by CORU in consultation with the Department of Health.  CORU’s intention is that the recurring annual fee will be set as low as possible while still delivering fully the intended public safeguards and consistent with the policy requirement that the regulatory body become entirely self-financing. 

Detailed study of the fee practices of both national and international regulatory agencies has already been undertaken.  This research will inform the further work being undertaken over the next two years to refine the approaches to be employed for regulation. 

Further Information

CORU will host a series of regional information forums nationwide later this year.  You can sign up to receive updates about these and other information regarding registration by visiting www.coru.ie.

What do Social Workers need to do now?

We would encourage you to apply to register as soon as the register is open.   Most employers will require registration for new posts and promotions.

Existing Social Work Practitioners

If you are a practising social worker in order to register you must:

1. apply within two years of the opening of the register
2. hold an approved qualification
3. If you do not hold an approved qualification you must successfully complete an assessment of professional competence set by the Registration Board
4. complete an application form
5. satisfy the board that you are a fit and proper person to engage in the practice of the profession
6. pay the required fee
7. provide appropriate information as to language competency if English is not the first language

New Graduates in Social Work

If you are a new graduate in order to register you must

hold an approved qualification

Other Professions

The register for each of the other professions will open on a phased basis over the next number of years once a Registration Board for each profession has been appointed by the Minister for Health.

Announcements for the opening of the registers will be published on our website.  You can sign up to receive updates related to your profession by visiting www.coru.ie.

Sarah Gahan

Communications Manager

Coru - Regulating Health and Social Care Professionals

8-11 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2

W: www.coru.ie T: 01 6694716 F: 01 6619276 E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it