142.Part IV concerns the functions and procedures of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) and Care Council for Wales (CCW) (Cyngor Gofal Cymru), referred to collectively as “the Councils”. Sections 54 and 55 set out the definitions relevant to this Part of the Act. The Councils will maintain registers of social care workers, and the procedures for this are set out in sections 56 to 60. Section 61 enables the title of “social worker” to be protected, by making it an offence to describe oneself as a social worker with intent to deceive, if not registered as a social worker with one of the Councils. Section 62 concerns the Councils’ responsibilities to develop and promulgate codes of practice for social care work. Sections 63 to 66 set out the Councils’ functions with regard to regulating the education and training of social workers, including requirements in respect of applicants with qualifications gained outside England and Wales.
143.The Councils will both be established as non-departmental public bodies, with the GSCC being sponsored by the Department of Health, and the CCW being sponsored by the National Assembly for Wales. The Councils will operate according to rules, which they will draw up and which will need the approval of the Secretary of State for the GSCC in England, and the National Assembly for Wales for the CCW in Wales. Individuals will have a right of appeal to an independent Tribunal against the Councils’ decisions not to register them or to remove them from the register.
144.In the remainder of these notes, a reference to “the Council” means, in relation to England, the GSCC, and in relation to Wales, the CCW.
Commentary on Sections Part Iv:  Social Care Workers