BASW Northern Ireland calls out 'unreasonable' proposed registration fee increase
The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) has launched an eight-week public consultation on proposals to review the registration fees paid by Social Workers, Social Care Managers, Social Care Practitioners and Social Work Students in Northern Ireland.
The proposals include an increase from £65 to £120 in Year 1 for social workers, with a further rise in Year 2. For social care practitioners, it’s an increase from £30 to £40 in year 1, with no further rise for social care practitioners in Year 2. Full details can be found here.
BASW Northern Ireland understands the NISCC's rationale, and we support tiered rates for senior roles. However, nearly doubling fees in a year is unreasonable.
Our members and their colleagues are highly skilled and dedicated professionals who support and protect some of the most vulnerable people in Northern Ireland.
At a time when vacancy rates remain persistently high, increasing financial pressure on the workforce will undermine recruitment and retention efforts and add workload and risk for teams delivering care and support.
We are calling for a sustainable funding model for NISCC that allows for a robust and supportive regulatory service that both practitioners and the public can trust. This is possible without adding undue financial strain on the workforce it supports.
Planned fee rises in other UK nations were softened following consultation that generated significant opposition. This is an important part of the democratic process, and we urge all affected to use the consultation to raise their voices.
While we also recognise that registration fees are lower in Northern Ireland than elsewhere, cost comparison with other nations won't always capture the reality for registrants. For example, in Scotland registrants working for statutory local authority services have their fees paid by their employers.
We are writing to the Northern Ireland Executive, calling for sufficient funding to ensure registration remains safe and supportive, without placing an undue burden on the workforce it is there to support. An under-resourced regulatory body places safety at risk. NISCC must be properly supported to carry out its vital functions.
