Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

791. To ask the Minister for Health the HSE roles that will be put forward for social care worker registration; and the level three qualifications that will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51759/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator. Its role is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals.

As service providers that employ Social Care Workers, such as the HSE, determine the qualifications for employment by the HSE, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this aspect of the question raised.

CORU will open the Social Care Workers Register on 30 November 2023. This will begin a 2-year transition period during which existing practitioners may apply to register with CORU. On 30 November 2025, the title 'Social Care Worker' will become a legally protected title in Ireland. This positive milestone will ensure all service users receive the highest standards of care and empower CORU to act when any deficiencies are identified.

CORU has engaged extensively, since 2017, with education providers on the standards required by Social Care Worker education programmes including undertaking a stakeholder consultation on the required education standards, holding meetings and information days with all education providers, and conducting site visits.

The 2005 Act currently provides that during the two-year transition period, an existing practitioner who has been practising the profession of social care work for a continuous two-year period out of the previous five years, and whose employer states that they meet the standards for that profession may be eligible for entry into the register.

CORU remain available to support existing practitioners and provide guidance on the entry routes to the Social Care Workers Register.

I would like to thank you for raising a matter of understandable concern.