The Social Workers Regulations 2018

Renewal of registration

13.—(1) A registered social worker may renew their registration in accordance with rules made under paragraph (5).

(2) The regulator must remove a registered social worker’s entry from the register where they fail to renew their registration in accordance with paragraph (1) unless—

(a) regulation 26(1) (social worker convicted of a listed offence) applies,

(b) they are subject to fitness to practise proceedings,

(c) they are subject to—

(i) an interim suspension order,

(ii) an interim conditions of practice order,

(iii) a conditions of practice order, or

(iv) a suspension order,

(d) they have made an appeal under regulation 19(1) or (8) and the appeal has not been withdrawn or otherwise finally disposed of, or

(e) they are subject to a decision specified in regulation 34 (referral of cases by the Authority to the High Court) and the period within which the decision may be referred to the High Court has not expired or, if a referral is made, the appeal(1) has not been withdrawn or otherwise finally disposed of.

(3) Where a registered social worker—

(a) is eligible to have their registration renewed,

(b) applies for renewal in accordance with the rules made under paragraph (5), and

(c) pays any fee payable in accordance with rules made under regulation 17(3),

the regulator must renew their registration.

(4) A person is eligible to have their registration renewed where the regulator is satisfied that they meet the requirements for initial registration referred to in regulation 11(2)(b) to (d) and—

(a) meet the professional standards relating to continuing professional training and development, and

(b) if they have not practised (or have practised less than the period determined by the regulator) since their initial registration or last renewal, meet any requirement as to additional education, training or experience as is determined by the regulator to apply to them.

(5) The regulator must make rules in relation to the renewal of registration including, in particular—

(a) the period within which registered social workers’ registration must be renewed,

(b) the circumstances in which the regulator may extend that period in relation to a registered social worker,

(c) the process for applying for renewal of registration including—

(i) the time within which any step must be taken, and

(ii) the evidence of eligibility to be provided to the regulator.

(6) In any case where the regulator removes a person’s entry from the register where they fail to renew their registration in accordance with paragraph (1), it must notify them accordingly, and of their right to appeal under regulation 19(1)(f).

(1)

By virtue of section 29(7) of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002, where the Authority refers a case to the High Court under section 29(2A), the case is treated by the court as an appeal by the Authority against the relevant decision.