(0)

Professionalism and the Professional Standards for Social Workers

A UK CPD Course on Professionalism, Standards and Conduct in Social Work

  • About 3 hours estimated learning time
  • 5 sections, 10 lessons
  • Checkpoints and a 15-question final assessment
  • Online, self-paced, any device

About this course

This CPD course helps social workers in England understand and apply professionalism and the professional standards set by Social Work England. It covers the meaning of professionalism in social work, the regulatory framework, the six professional standards, professionalism in everyday practice, the challenges that test it, breaches of standards and their consequences, and reflection, insight and remediation.

Where the companion ethics course explores values and dilemmas, this course focuses on what professionalism looks like day to day: registering and renewing, recording CPD, writing defensible records, working with other agencies, managing caseloads and hostility, behaving professionally online and outside work, working as an agency social worker, and supporting the learning of others. It is designed for all registered social workers, including those responding to a concern or fitness to practise matter.

CPD Value and How to Record It

This course is designed to provide approximately 3 hours of learning, including reading, the reflection points, the reflective account and the assessment. In the UK, CPD is generally recorded as the time actually spent learning, so you should record the time you genuinely spend, which may be more or less than the estimate.

How the course fits your revalidation or CPD requirements depends on your regulator. For example, the NMC asks nurses, midwives and nursing associates to record 35 hours of CPD over three years, of which at least 20 must be participatory; self-directed online learning such as this course usually counts as individual learning unless you complete it with others. The GMC expects doctors to reflect on CPD for appraisal and revalidation rather than setting a fixed number of hours. The HCPC, GDC, GPhC, GOC, GOsC and GCC each set their own CPD requirements, so check the current rules that apply to you. Always keep your certificate together with your written reflection.

What you will learn

  • Understand the meaning and importance of professionalism in social work.
  • Describe the role of Social Work England and the six professional standards.
  • Apply the professional standards to everyday practice.
  • Demonstrate professionalism in communication, accountability, record-keeping and digital conduct.
  • Navigate challenges to professionalism, including power, pressure and difficult situations.
  • Use reflection, insight and remediation to strengthen professionalism over time.

Who it is for

Social workers registered with Social Work England, including newly qualified, agency and experienced practitioners and those responding to a concern; relevant also to social workers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Standards and law covered

Social Work England professional standards and registration rules; CPD requirements; BASW Professional Capabilities Framework; post-qualifying knowledge and skills statements; employer standards; agency rules for child and family social workers

Course content

Lessons open one after another as you work through the course. They unlock once you enrol.

1What is Professionalism?1 lesson
  • 1.1 What Professionalism Means
  • Section checkpoint
2The Social Work England Professional Standards6 lessons
  • 2.1 Social Work England and the Professional Standards
  • 2.2 Standard 2: Establish and maintain the trust and confidence of people
  • 2.3 Standard 3: Be Accountable for Practice and Decisions
  • 2.4 Standard 4: Keeping My Professional Development Current
  • 2.5 Standard 5: Act Safely, Respectfully and with Integrity
  • 2.6 Standard 6: Promote ethical practice and report concerns
  • Section checkpoint
3Why is Professionalism as a Social Worker Important?1 lesson
  • 3.1 Pause and Reflect
  • Section checkpoint
4Challenges to Professionalism1 lesson
  • 4.1 Professional Curiosity and Analytical Thinking
  • Section checkpoint
5Reflection, Insight, and Remediation1 lesson
  • 5.1 What to Do If a Concern Is Raised About You
  • Section checkpoint
Reflection and final assessment3 steps
  • Your reflective account
  • Final assessment: 15 questions, 80% to pass
  • Certificate of completion
3 hours

Estimated learning time

This covers the lessons, section checkpoints, your reflective account and the final assessment. Everyone works at a different pace, so record the time you actually spend in your CPD log. The player shows the time you have spent in the course to help you.

Your certificate of completion

When you pass the final assessment you can download a certificate showing your name, the course title, the estimated learning time, your completion date and a certificate number that anyone can check on this website. Keep it with your reflective account in your CPD records.

Questions about this course

How long does the course take?

The estimated learning time is about 3 hours, including the lessons, section checkpoints, your reflective account and the final assessment. People work at different speeds, so record the time you actually spend in your own CPD log.

How do I access the course after buying it?

Log in to your FTP Courses account and open the course from My Courses. The course runs in your web browser on a computer, tablet or phone, and your progress is saved to your account so you can stop and continue later.

How is the course assessed?

Each section ends with a short checkpoint. At the end there is a final assessment of 15 questions; you need 80% (12 correct) to pass. If you do not pass, you can review the course and try again after a short wait.

What do I receive when I finish?

You can download a certificate of completion showing your name, the course title, the estimated learning time, your completion date and a certificate number that can be checked online. You can also download your reflective account for your CPD portfolio.

Is this course linked to my regulator?

No. FTP Courses is an independent education provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any UK regulator. The course is CPD-aligned: it is written to help you learn and reflect against your regulator's published standards, and on completion you receive a certificate of completion stating the estimated learning time. Record the time you actually spend in your own CPD log, and decide how the course fits your CPD or any remediation plan, ideally with advice from your defence organisation, union or legal adviser.

Will completing the course guarantee a particular outcome in a complaint or investigation?

No course can guarantee an outcome. Decision-makers look at genuine insight, reflection and sustained change in your practice. The course is designed to support that learning; it does not replace it.