Part 1: Main Provisions Section 7 and Schedule 6: Temporary registration of social workers: Scotland
The section and Schedule modifies the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (the "2001 Act") to give the Scottish Social Services Council (the "SSSC") the power to consider applications for a temporary social worker in Scotland from those who have retired from being a social worker, those who are on a career break and from social work students. The Scottish Minsters have the power to direct the SSSC to start considering applications for temporary registration. Before issuing a direction, they must have regard to any advice from the Chief Medical Officer of the Scottish administration (or Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the Scottish administration), and be satisfied that the direction is necessary and proportionate in response to the risk of transmission of COVID-19, and its impact on the provision of social services in Scotland.
	In order for the SSSC to register a person as a temporary social worker, it must be satisfied that the relevant criteria are met. An application for temporary registration can be made by a retired social worker or a person on a career break who was previously working as a social worker within the last 5 years. Applications for temporary registration can also be considered from social work students who are in the final year of their training. Applications can be received from persons who may have worked or obtained qualifications in Scotland, or another part of the UK. In each case, the SSSC has the discretion to determine if applicants are persons who are of good character and satisfy any requirements for competence and conduct.
	It is at the discretion of the SSSC to determine who is registered on a temporary basis, and conditions on temporary registrations may be imposed. The SSSC may revoke the registration at any time including where they suspect that the person’s fitness to practise may be impaired. The SSSC must revoke the temporary registration if the Scottish Ministers directs it to cease considering applications for temporary registration. Provision is made to make it clear that any person who is on the register as a temporary social worker can apply, at any point they are on the register, for registration in another part of the register. This enables people who are retired or on a career break to make an application to return to work as a fully qualified social worker if they choose to do so. Equally, it enables social work students to apply to be registered as a social worker as soon as they complete their education, if they are still registered as a temporary social worker. If any such application is successful, that person would be removed from the register of temporary social workers. The SSSC has power to make rules in relation to the applications for temporary registration or those who are registered as temporary social workers. Certain provisions of the 2001 Act in relation to appeals against the decisions of the SSSC for application for full registration have been disapplied in respect of applications for temporary registration.
	Section 7 and Schedule 6 amend the Registration of Social Workers and Social Services Workers in Care Services (Scotland) Regulations 2013 to increase the period of time which a person who is a social services worker or a social worker who works in the care service sector in Scotland must be registered to work in those services from 6 month to 12 months.
	The territorial extent and application of this section and Schedule is Scotland only.