On Wednesday 18th October Fórsa hosted a one-day conference for Social Care Workers on all aspects of statutory regulation ahead of the opening of the CORU Register for Social Care Workers on 30th November. We were delighted to welcome over 150 members to the free event in Dublin.
The Conference was opened by Andy Meaney, Vice Chairperson of the Health and Welfare Division and heard Opening Remarks from Chris Cully, Fórsa Assistant General Secretary.
Chris outlined how the role of Social Care Workers has grown and expanded over the years, moving from a time when there were no professional qualifications to today when there are forty-four-degree courses available.
The progress of the profession has culminated in regulation which gives equity of standing with the other health professions.
Margaret Hynds O’Flanagan, Registrar of CORU, gave a keynote address on what registration means for Social Care Workers. She also explained the different avenues a social care professional must take to become registered.
She explained that depending on your status as new graduate, an international applicant, or an existing practitioner there are different routes one must take to become registered.
In the afternoon a panel discussion considered the impact of regulation on the profession, the speakers were: Susan Barnes, Lecturer, South East Technological University, Catherine Byrne, Head of Strategy and Policy, CORU, Olive Leonard, Director of HR, Muiríosa Foundation, Mary Nolan, Chairperson, Social Care Workers, National Professional Committee, Fórsa and Mark Smith, Director of Crannóg Nua, Special Care Service, Tusla.
The conference ended with a speech by Linda Kelly, Fórsa National Secretary on Fitness to Practice.
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