Mayor Welcomes NI Post Qualifying Social Work Awards to Ballymena

The Mayor of Ballymena, Councillor Mrs Audrey Wales MBE welcomed the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and successful social workers to the Borough for the presentation of the 2014 Post Qualifying Social Work Awards.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Oct 2014, 16:28 BST
Pictured at the recent NISCC Post Qualifying Awards event in the Tullyglass Hotel Ballymena are: L-R: James Perry, Chair of NISCC; Christine Smyth, Deputy Chief Social Services Officer at DHSSPS; Joe Blake, Chair of NISCC PQ Partnership; Mark Bradley, &.Director of Registration and Corporate Services at NISCC; Patricia Higgins, Director of Regulation and Standards at NISCC; Cllr Mrs Audrey Wales MBE; and Colum Conway NISCC Chief Executive.Pictured at the recent NISCC Post Qualifying Awards event in the Tullyglass Hotel Ballymena are: L-R: James Perry, Chair of NISCC; Christine Smyth, Deputy Chief Social Services Officer at DHSSPS; Joe Blake, Chair of NISCC PQ Partnership; Mark Bradley, &.Director of Registration and Corporate Services at NISCC; Patricia Higgins, Director of Regulation and Standards at NISCC; Cllr Mrs Audrey Wales MBE; and Colum Conway NISCC Chief Executive.
Pictured at the recent NISCC Post Qualifying Awards event in the Tullyglass Hotel Ballymena are: L-R: James Perry, Chair of NISCC; Christine Smyth, Deputy Chief Social Services Officer at DHSSPS; Joe Blake, Chair of NISCC PQ Partnership; Mark Bradley, &.Director of Registration and Corporate Services at NISCC; Patricia Higgins, Director of Regulation and Standards at NISCC; Cllr Mrs Audrey Wales MBE; and Colum Conway NISCC Chief Executive.

A total of 118 social workers from across Northern Ireland successfully attained awards on the NI Post Qualifying Framework for Social Work.

Qualified social workers are required to undertake continuous professional development as part of their registration with the NISCC. Keeping their knowledge and skills up to date means that they can provide the best possible support to service users.

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Speaking at the event, the Mayor said: “This event celebrates the dedication of social work staff from across Northern Ireland who have committed their time and energy to further developing their skills and expertise. The post qualifying opportunities in Northern Ireland are second to none in terms of professional reputation. It is encouraging that, despite all of the pressures of everyday work, people are prepared to further enhance their knowledge so that they can be even better equipped to deliver on the vitally important responsibility to protect the public.”

The NI Post Qualifying Framework offers a range of professional requirements that can be achieved through a modular approach. Modules can be achieved by completing an accredited programme, by submitting work on an individual basis for assessment or through a combination of both methods.

James Perry, NISCC Chair said: “This is very much an occasion of celebration for the successful candidates, their families and the organisations they work for. On behalf of the NISCC, I commend the commitment of our successful social work candidates in completing these Post Qualifying Awards whilst carrying on with the vital task of providing social work services for our communities.

Commitment to ongoing learning and development is key to ensuring that our registrants are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to support and protect people in our communities.”

Related topics:MayorBallymenaMBE