CPD requirement dropped for social workers in Wales

Practitioners will no longer have to evidence their continuing professional development to Social Care Wales, under reforms designed to simplify CPD system.

Social Care Wales has scrapped the requirement for social workers to log 90 hours of CPD (or 45 hours for social care workers) every three years for registration renewal, shifting the focus to the quality and impact of learning; now, while practitioners must still confirm their CPD is current and aligned with professional practice standards—and keep records that may be randomly checked—they no longer need to document a specific hour count, modernizing a system that had been in place since 2001. 

Social Care Wales’s code of practice for social care, which all registrants must follow, states that they must be undertaking relevant learning and development to maintain and improve their knowledge and skills to ensure they are fit to practise, and contributing to the learning and development of others” (standard 6.9).

Practice guidance for social workers that builds on the code states that they must:

• routinely review and update knowledge of legal, practice, policy, regulatory and procedural frameworks;
• keep up-to-date with relevant literature and research;
• listen and learn from others, including people using the service, relatives, carers and other professionals;
• seek help with critical gaps in knowledge and skills;
• use learning to support improved outcomes for people.

It also says they should use a variety of methods to keep up to date, such as reading, attending courses, carrying out post-qualifying training, learning from visits and placements, contributing to professional forums and accessing or contributing to research.

Disclaimer: The accuracy and information of news stories published on this website is accurate on the date of publishing. We endeavour to update stories if information change. You can contact us with change and update requests. Where possible, we will link to sources. Content on this website is for guidance purposes only. We cannot accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any action taken, or not taken. You should seek the appropriate legal advice having regard to your own particular circumstances.