Please find below a list of various organisations from the social care sector which you find useful. The entries are listed in alphabetical order by name.
A
ADASS
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) represents all the directors of adult social services in England and Northern Ireland. It evolved from the former ADSS (Association of Directors of Social Services) when responsibilities for adults and children’s services within top tier local authorities were split between two new departments - the one for adults and the other for children.
ADASS brings together the accumulated wisdom and understanding of the way services for adults are managed and financed as well as inputs from a widening responsibility for housing, leisure, library, culture and, in some case, arts and sports facilities.
Our members are responsible for providing or commissioning, through the activities of their departments, the wellbeing, protection and care of hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled people, as well as for the promotion of that wellbeing and protection wherever it is needed.
ADASS Administrator,
ADASS Business Unit
Local Government House,
Smith Square,
London,
SW1P 3HZ
Tel: 020 7072 7433
Email: team@adass.org.uk
http://www.adass.org.uk
Association of Directors of Children's Services - ADCS
The Association of Directors of Children's Services - ADCS - is the national leadership Association in England for statutory directors of children's services and other children's services professionals in leadership roles. ADCS members specialise in considering, developing, commissioning, leading and managing children's services in all the diverse ways in which they are provided to children, young people, families and communities. Through the contribution of our members, ADCS ensures a vigorous presence in all areas concerning education, children's social care and safeguarding. Our members are actively involved in the strategic planning, delivery, commissioning and management of services for children and young people including adolescents, children at school, in children's centres and nurseries, children in need of different types of protection and care - residential, fostering or adoption - as well as young offenders, teenage parents and vulnerable families.
The Association of Directors of Children's Services
Ellen Wilkinson Building
University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
T: 0161 275 8810
F:0161 275 8811
E: info@adcs.org.uk
http://www.adcs.org.uk
Association of Directors for Social Services Cymru
The Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru is a constituted group of statutory directors and senior social services managers who work in local government in Wales and who have come together to promote the social wellbeing of the vulnerable citizens in Wales irrespective of their circumstances. The professional leadership organisation represents the interests of social services in Wales by seeking dialogue and working with key partners and the Welsh Assembly Government to challenge inequities of social condition.
http://www.adsscymru.org.uk/
Association of Directors of Social Work
The Association of Directors of Social Work is a constituted group of senior social workers who work in Scottish local government. We have come together to promote social welfare and social inclusion and the interests of those who use our services. We have established internal networks, on which all local authority social work departments are represented, to disseminate research, information and best practice, discuss policy and to communicate our views on key social work issues. We also seek to enter into dialogue with our partners and provide opportunities for consultation and conference, to discuss joint concerns whilst promoting and exploring the benefits of partnership and integrated working.
The Association of Directors of Social Work
Rosebery House
9 Haymarket Terrace
Edinburgh
EH12 5ZX
Phone: 0131 474 9220
Fax: 0131 474 9292
Email:
info@adsw.org.uk
B
Bestcarehome.co.uk
BestCareHome is a directory of 18,500 registered care homes in England, including quality ratings and extracts from CQC inspection reports. The site also provides tools to compare care homes and provides email notification when new inspection reports are published about houses of interest.
http://www.bestcarehome.co.uk
British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is the largest association representing social work and social workers in the UK. Whether you are qualified or not, experienced, or just entering the profession, we are here to help, support, advise and campaign on your behalf.
16 Kent Street, Birmingham, B5 6RD
Telephone: (0121) 622 3911
Fax: (0121) 622 4860
Email:
info@basw.co.uk
C
Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales
CSSIW encourages the improvement of social care, early years and social services by regulating, inspecting and reviewing, and by providing professional advice to Ministers and policy makers. Through our work, we aim to raise standards, improve quality, promote best practice and inform people about social care.
Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
Telephone: 01443 848450
Fax: 029 2082 3417
E-mail: cssiw@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.cssiw.org.uk
Care Council for Wales
Cyngor Gofal Cymru
The Care Council for Wales was established in October 2001 to promote high standards of conduct and practice among social care workers and high standards in their training. Our aim is to ensure children and adults who are receiving social care services should be able to rely on a workforce that is properly trained, appropriately qualified and effectively regulated.
Care Council for Wales
South Gate House,
Wood Street,
Cardiff,
CF10 1EW
Tel: 029 2022 6257
Minicom: 029 2078 0680
Fax: 029 2038 4764
e-mail: info@ccwales.org.uk
Registration helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm
Telephone number: 0845 0700 399
E-mail: registration@ccwales.org.uk
http://www.ccwales.org.uk
Care Quality Commission
The Healthcare Commission, Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission ceased to exist on 31 March 2009. The Care Quality Commission is the new health and social care regulator for England.
Care Quality Commission
St Nicholas Building
St Nicholas Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 1NB
Telephone: 03000 616161
Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk
www.cqc.org.uk
Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP)
The Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) was established in 2005 by the integration of a number of initiatives supporting the development of health and social care services.
CSIP is a partnership of four national programmes delivered through eight regional development centres. The RDCs and national programmes are jointly commissioned by the Department of Health and the Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
http://www.csip.org.uk/
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS)
Cafcass looks after the interests of children involved in family proceedings. We work with children and their families, and then advise the courts on what we consider to be in the best interests of individual children.
Cafcass National Office
8th Floor
South Quay Plaza 3
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SH
Telephone: 020 7510 7000
Fax: 020 7510 7001
Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC)
CWDC was set up in 2005 to support the implementation of Every Child Matters, a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19. The government's aim - through the Every Child Matters programme - is for every child to have the support they need to:
- be healthy
- stay safe
- enjoy and achieve
- make a positive contribution
- achieve economic well-being.
Our work supports over half a million people in the children's workforce across England, including those in childcare provision, learning mentors, education welfare, foster care and social care.
CWDC
2nd Floor
City Exchange
11 Albion Street
LEEDS
LS1 5ES
Phone: 0113 244 6311
Fax: 0113 390 7744
Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
The Healthcare Commission, Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission ceased to exist on 31 March 2009. The Care Quality Commission is the new health and social care regulator for England.
www.cqc.org.uk
Counselling Directory
The purpose of the site is ultimately to provide the UK with a huge counselling support network, enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs. This is a free, confidential service that will hopefully encourage those in distress to seek help. The website also contains a number of sections on emotional disorders (types of distress section) and provides some useful statistics. Every counsellor on the site who has submitted their profile has either sent a copy of their qualifications and insurance cover to us, or is registered with a professional body online with recognised codes of ethics and practice, this way we can be assured of their professionalism. All our counsellors must provide us with a relevant qualification AND insurance cover; or proof of registration with a professional body. There is more about our policy here http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/verifiedseal.html
www.counselling-directory.org.uk
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
The CRB’s aim is to help organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable to work with children or other vulnerable members of society.
SCA are an umbrella body which processes CRB checks for organisations. For more information click here.
Registration Information Line 0870 90 90 822
CRB Registration Team
PO Box 110
Liverpool
L69 3EF
E
Equality & Human Rights Commission
Every Child Matters Change for Children
Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19. ECM is a government programme for a national framework to support the "joining up" of children’s services - education, culture, health, social care, and justice involving cross-government working with local partners to achieve better outcomes for children and young people.
Telephone: 0870 000 2288, or, if you know the name of the person you want to speak to, call 0870 001 2345.
Fax: 01928 794248. Textphone/minicom: 01928 794274.
Post: Department for Children, Schools and Families, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT.
G
General Social Care Council
The GSCC is responsible for setting standards of conduct and practice for social care workers and their employers, for regulating the workforce, and for regulating social work education and training. The GSCC is a Non Departmental Public Body established in October 2001 under the Care Standards Act 2000. It is sponsored by the Department of Health but works also closely with the Department for Children, Schools and Families in delivering the children’s and young people's care agenda.
Registration helpline 0845 070 0630 or +44 (0)1788 532402 if calling from outside the UK
Contact Number: 020 7397 5100 (switchboard)
Government Departments
Department for Communities and Local Government
Ministry of Justice
http://www.justice.gov.uk/
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Previously the department for education and skills.
Department of Health
Department for Work and Pensions
House of Commons Select Committees
This webpage details all the various select committees.
I
Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS)
The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS) formerly known as the Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education
The aim of the Institute is to develop educational qualifications, professional development pathways and organisational learning cultures that continue to promote positive change in Scotland's social services sector. IRISS is committed to achieving this within an ethos that seeks and utilises the views and participation of service users and carers in all aspects of our work and prioritises collaboration, continuous improvement and quality enhancement.
Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services,
9 Dudhope Terrace,
Dundee,
DD3 6HG
phone: 01382 224422
fax: 01382 224545
Integrated Care Network
The Integrated Care Network (ICN) provides information and support to frontline NHS and Local Government organisations seeking to improve the quality of provision to service users, patients and carers by integrating the planning and delivery of services.
The key role of the ICN is the facilitation of communication between frontline organisations and government, so that policy and practice inform each other effectively.
Tel 0207 972 4095.
L
Learning and Skills Council
The Learning and Skills Council exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. LSC have a single goal: to improve the skills of England’s young people and adults to ensure we have a workforce of world-class standard.
The LSC is a non-departmental public body which began work in 2001, taking over the roles of the former Further Education Funding Council and Training and Enterprise Councils.
N
National Assembly for Wales
Health and Social Services
Social Justice and Local Government
National Care Forum (NCF)
The National Care Forum has been established to represent the interests of not-for-profit health and social care providers in the United Kingdom.
Formed in 2003, but built on 10 years experience as the Care Forum, we are rapidly becoming the leading voice in our sector, representing the views and concerns both of carers and those we care for.
We promote the benefits of the not-for-profit model of care services provision, to local and national government, as well as consumers and other health care bodies.
National Care Forum,
3 The Quadrant,
Coventry,
CV1 2DY.
024 7624 3619
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
NCVO is a registered charity (number 225922), a company limited by guarantee, number 198344 England, which gives voice and support to civil society.
NCVO believes passionately in the voluntary and community sector. This is a sector with the power to transform the lives of people and communities for the better.
Freephone: 0800 2 798 798
Textphone: 0800 01 88 111
Northern Ireland Assembly
Department for Education
Department for Employment and Learning
Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Department for Social Development
P
Private Care Sector Workforce Initiative
The Private Care Sector Workforce Initiative aims to develop the capacity of the private care sector in Scotland to deliver on the national workforce agenda. The Initiative is managed by Scottish Care in partnership with Scottish Care at Home and is funded by the Scottish Government through the Older People’s Unit and the Workforce & Capacity Issues Division within the Social Care Directorate.
Private Care Sector Workforce Initiative,
Scottish Care,
54a Holmston Road,
Ayr,
KA7 3BE
Email:
admin@workforceinitiative.co.uk
Website:
www.workforceinitiative.co.uk
R
reSearchWeb
reSearchWeb is funded by the Scottish Executive as a tool for the informed social work professional. It provides:
links to the full text of Scottish Executive publications on social welfare
reports of Scottish and UK research
access to
Social Care Online, a comprehensive database of over 75,000 publications on social care
a diary section, with a comprehensive list of training events, courses and conferences across Scotland
weblinks to Scottish, UK and international organisations in social care.
reSearchWeb provides a sound knowledge base on social work and social care practice and policy. It contains information and research that is up to date, concise but thorough, and selected with practice in mind.
reSearchWeb
Social Care Institute for Excellence
Goldings House
2 Hay's Lane
London SE1 2HB
Email:
admin.researchweb@scie.org.uk
Tel: 020 7089 6840
Textphone: 020 7089 6893
Fax: 020 7089 6841
http://www.researchweb.org.uk/
S
Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People (SCCYP)
SCCYP promotes and safeguards the rights of children and young people living in Scotland. Kathleen Marshall, Scotland's first Commissioner is here to make sure all children have their rights respected.
http://www.sccyp.org.uk/
Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (Care Commission)
The Care Commission was set up in April 2002 under the
Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 to regulate all adult, child and independent healthcare services in Scotland. It makes sure that care service providers meet the Scottish Governments
National Care Standards and work to improve the quality of care. The Care Commission has 580 employees, including 360 Care Commission officers who inspect services, and an annual operating budget of around £30.3million. Almost 320,000 people use the 15,000 services they regulate.
Locall: 0845 603 0890
Headquarters: 01382 207100
http://www.carecommission.com
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the national body representing the voluntary sector. SCVO seeks to advance the values and shared interests of the voluntary sector.
There are 45,000 voluntary organisations in Scotland involving up to 130,000 paid staff and over 1.2 million volunteers. The sector manages an income of £3.2billion.
Mansfield Traquair Centre
15 Mansfield Place
Edinburgh
EH3 6BB
Tel:0131 556 3882
Fax:0131 556 0279
Scottish Government
List of portfolios and responsibilities
Portfolio for Education & Lifelong Learning
Portfolio for Health and Wellbeing
Portfolio for Justice
Scottish Government Social Work Services Pages
Scottish Government Workforce and Capacity Issues Division
The division works with a wide range of individuals, organisations and groups with an interest in social work services. This includes service users and carers, local authorities, voluntary and private organisations, umbrella and partner organisations (including health, education and justice services), universities and colleges and other Scottish Government departments.
Tel 0131 244 0778
FAX 0131 244 7095.
Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education (SIESWE) see IRISS
Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC)
The Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC) is funded by the Scottish Executive and is a partnership of the University of Strathclyde , The Robert Gordon University, Who Cares? Scotland , Langside College and Save the Children.
SIRCC was established in 2000 with the aim of ensuring that residential child care staff throughout Scotland have access to the skills and knowledge they require to meet the needs of the children and young people in their care.
SIRCC National Office
University of Strathclyde
5th floor, Sir Henry Wood Building
76 Southbrae Drive
Glasgow
G13 1PP
Phone:0141-950 3683
Fax:0141-950 3681
Scottish Social Services Council - SSSC
The Scottish Social Services Council is responsible for raising standards in the Scottish social service workforce. Our vision is a competent, confident workforce, capable of delivering high quality services that has the confidence of the public, those who use services and their carers. We will put service users and carers at the centre of everything we do.
There are around 138,000 social service workers in Scotland, providing care and support to some of the most vulnerable sections of our society. They deserve to be helped by staff who have suitable training and qualifications for their job. Over the next few years we will register key social service workers involved in providing or delivering social work, social care services and early education and child care. They will be expected to meet agreed standards of conduct, practice, education and training.
Scottish Social Services Council
Compass House
11 Riverside Drive
Dundee
DD1 4NY
For general enquiries, career information, Skills for Care and Development please email:
enquiries@sssc.uk.comTel: 01382 207101 Lo call: 0845 60 30 891
For enquiries about registration please
Tel: 0845 60 30 891
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) was established by Government in 2001 to improve social care services for adults and children in the United Kingdom. The Social Care Institute for Excellence’s (SCIE) mission is to identify and spread knowledge about good practice to the large and diverse social care workforce and support the delivery of transformed, personalised social care services. SCIE aims to reach and influence practitioners, managers and the sector leadership who have responsibility for service delivery in adults’ and children’s services. SCIE recognises the central role of people who use services, children, young people, their families and their carers, and aims to ensure their experience and expertise is reflected in all aspects of our work.
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7089 6840
Textphone: +44 (0)20 7089 6893
Fax: +44 (0)20 7089 6841
email: info@scie.org.uk
Social Services Improvement Agency
The SSIA was set up to support local authorities increase the pace of improvement and promote excellence within social services. Hosted by the Welsh Local Government Association the Agency is a partnership enterprise between the Association, ADSS Cymru and the Welsh Assembly Government.
http://www.ssiacymru.org.uk/
Social Work Inspection Agency
SWIA is Scotland's independent Social Work Inspection Agency. SWIA aims to deliver rigorous inspections that will drive up standards and improve the quality of social work services across Scotland.
SWIA is a Government Agency which operates independently and impartially. At the same time, SWIA remains directly accountable to Scottish Ministers for the standards of our work.
Focusing on inspection and at arm's length from policy responsibilities, SWIA’s job is to inspect all social work services in Scotland, and report publicly and to Parliament on the quality of these services, locally and nationally. The emphasis is firmly on People.
Working in partnership with the agencies that provide the services and the people who use them SWIA has an important part to play in improving practice, making a real difference in people's lives.
Social Work Inspection Agency
Ladywell House
Ladywell Road
Edinburgh
EH12 7TB
Telephone: 0131-244 4735
Fax: 0131-244 5496
Social Work Scotland
The Social Work Services Scotland website. This website has been set up by the Scottish Government to enable you to access a wide range of information about Changing Lives - the change programme for social work services in Scotland.
For contact details see Scottish Government Workforce and Capacity Issues Division
Skills for Care
Skills for Care is the employer led authority on the training standards and development needs of nearly one million social care staff in England providing over £25 million in funding to support improved training and qualifications for managers and staff.
http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk
Skills for Care and Development
Skills for Care and Development is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for social care, children, early years and young people’s workforces in the UK. It is an Alliance of 6 organisations:
Care Council for Wales, Children’s Workforce Development Council, General Social Care Council, Northern Ireland Social Care Council, Scottish Social Services Council, and Skills for Care
http://www.skillsforcareanddevelopment.org.uk/
V
Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit
The Workforce Unit seeks to work with all social service providers in the voluntary sector in Scotland to help achieve the Scottish Social Services Council's vision of a "Competent, confident workforce, capable of delivering services in a changing environment and committed to developing a culture of learning."
The Unit has been established by Community Care Providers Scotland (CCPS) in collaboration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and is funded by the Scottish Government
Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit
Unit 157/158
Stirling Enterprise Park
Stirling
FK7 7RP
Email: vswu.admin@ccpscotland.org
Website: www.ccpscotland.org/workforceunit/