Standards of proficiency for Social Workers (England) Professional Liaison Group (PLG) 2 March 2011 English language proficiency Executive summary and recommendations Introduction This paper looks at requirements amongst the existing regulated professions for English language competence, and invites discussion on appropriate requirements for social workers. Decision The PLG is invited to: discuss the attached paper; and agree that the level of English language proficiency for social workers in England should be set at 7 with no element below 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (or equivalent score in other tests). Background information Resource implications Financial implications Appendices Date of paper 14 February 2011 Page 1 of 5
1. Introduction 1.1 The Department of Health recently published Liberating the NHS: Report of the arm s length bodies review. This review said that the government intended to transfer responsibility for regulating social workers in England to the Health Professions Council (HPC). As part of this work, this PLG will help to prepare draft standards of proficiency. These standards will apply to social workers in England. 1.2 The PLG will help to prepare draft standards of proficiency for social workers in England which will be agreed by our Council and then subject to public consultation. The standards will then be finalised and published prior to the opening of the Register for social workers. 1.3 One of the standards of proficiency sets out the threshold level of English language proficiency expected on point of entry to the Register. This paper explores our requirements for the professions we currently regulate and invites discussion on the appropriate level for social workers. 1.4 Our requirements related to the level of English language competence are set out in the standards of education and training and the standards of proficiency. Page 2 of 5
Our current requirements The standards of proficiency and language testing 2.1 Our requirements for English language proficiency are included in the standards of proficiency for the profession. 2.2 We can require evidence of language proficiency from international applicants who do not have mutual recognition rights under European Legislation and for whom English is not their first language. 2.3 We currently require applicants to achieve an overall score in the academic test of the International Language Testing System (IELTS) of at least 7.0, with no element below 6.5. A number of other tests are also approved at levels equivalent to the IELTS. 1 Individuals who have mutual recognition rights under European legislation or who have English as their first language are exempt from these requirements (see paragraphs 2.6 2.9 below). Speech and language therapists 2.4 The English language proficiency requirement is, however, higher for speech and language therapists for whom this is a core professional skill. Level 8.0 with no element below 7.5 is required. As a core professional skill, we can require all applicants to undertake this test, including those who have mutual recognition rights. 2.5 The rationale behind this is that speech and language therapists, as a threshold requirement, need to have an understanding of, and be able to use, the phonetic and linguistic structure of language. Mutual recognition rights and language testing 2.6 Under European legislation, applications from applicants with mutual recognition rights are treated differently compared to those from applicants from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA). In order to obtain mutual recognition rights, an applicant has to be a national of a country within the EEA and have the right to practise in an EEA country. 2.7 We assess the applications of such applicants in the same way as other applications. Applications are assessed by registration assessors who are registered members of the profession with appropriate practice and academic experience. 2.8 If the HPC finds that there is a shortfall between the applicant s education and experience and the standards required for registration, the HPC is able to ask them to undertake a period of adaptation or aptitude test to make up this shortfall. A period of adaptation is a period of supervised practice and/or academic training in areas identified by registration 1 Information on other language tests and the scores we require can be found on our website here: http://www.hpc-uk.org/apply/international/requirements/ Page 3 of 5
assessors which allows an EEA applicant to reach the standard required to be registered with us. An aptitude test tests the applicant s knowledge in a discrete range of areas identified by the registration assessors. 2.9 Under the legislation, we are unable to require EEA applicants exercising mutual recognition rights to undergo a language test (except for applicants for speech and language therapy, please see paragraphs 2.4 2.5). Additionally we are unable to language test other applicants for whom English is their first language. Admission to an approved programme 2.10 We set standards of education and training (SETs) which education programmes have to meet in order to be approved by us. 2 These standards ensure that anybody who completes an approved programme meets the standards of proficiency and is therefore eligible to apply for admission to the Register. 2.11 The SETs cover a number of areas, including admission to the programme. One of the standards (SET 2.2) says that the admissions procedures must apply selection and entry criteria, including evidence of a good command of reading, writing and spoken English. 2.12 Any English language requirements that the education provider sets on admission must ensure that, at the end of the programme, all students can meet the necessary level of English set out within the standards of proficiency. 2.13 This standard means that individuals applying for registration having completed an approved programme meet the level of English language proficiency. Therefore, those applicants meet the same threshold level of English language competency as individuals who qualified overseas. This ensures consistency in the requirements we set on entry to the Register. English language competence and the role of employers 2.14 It is important to remember that any English language requirements, as with the rest of the standards of proficiency, are set a threshold level. Further, as outlined in this paper, our ability to language test applicants is limited to those for whom English is not their first language and who do not meet the criteria for mutual recognition. 2.15 Therefore, registration cannot be a guarantee of English language competence. Nor can it be a guarantee that a registrant will suited to a particular employment role. Employers also have responsibilities in ensuring that they employ registrants who are fit for purpose, including assuring themselves that the registrant possesses an appropriate ability in the English language. 2 Standards of education and training http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutregistration/standards/sets/ Page 4 of 5
3. Existing requirements for social workers 3.1 The General Social Care Council does not currently test the level of English language proficiency for applicants who have qualified outside the UK. 3.2 There are some requirements about the level of English language proficiency for social work degree courses. These are set out in the Department of Health s Requirements for Social Work Training. 3 Education providers must: Ensure that, in addition to the university s own admission requirements for the degree, all entrants have achieved at least Key Skills level 2 in English and mathematics. This would normally be equivalent to grade C in the GCSE examination in English and mathematics. Satisfy themselves that all entrants can understand and make use of written material and are able to communicate clearly and accurately in spoken and written English. 3.3 Concerns have recently been raised about some social workers level of English language proficiency. In response to these concerns, the Social Work Reform Board (SWRB) has recommended that social work courses should make sure that students on their programmes can meet IELTS level 7. 4 3.4 The SWRB s recommendation is consistent with the requirements that we set for the professions we currently regulate (apart from speech and language therapists) as outlined in paragraphs 2.4 2.5. 4. Discussion 4.1 The PLG is invited to discuss this paper and agree that the level of English language proficiency for social workers in England should be set at 7 with no element below 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (or equivalent score in other tests). 3 Department of Health, Requirements for Social Work Training http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/publicationsandstatistics/publications/publicationspolicyandguidance/d H_4007803 4 Social Work Reform Board, Building a safe and confident future: One year on Detailed proposals from the Social Work Reform Board, pg 52 http://www.education.gov.uk/swrb/downloads/building%20a%20safe%20and%20confident%20fut ure%20-%20one%20year%20on,%20detailed%20proposals.pdf Page 5 of 5