Northern Ireland Post Qualifying Education and Training Partnership

Transitional Arrangements from UK PQ to NI PQ

Completion and Transition Arrangements 

Post-qualifying development is changing from a UK wide framework (UK PQ) to a Northern Ireland specific (NI PQ) framework. This will mean change in content, structure, routes and assessment of post-qualifying social work developments. The Northern Ireland Social Care Council provides the Professional Awards. Notably the NI PQ Framework will be assessed at Post Graduate M level rather than the Honours Degree level of the UK PQ Post-Qualifying Award. This change in level is a consequence of the new qualifying level for social work which is at Honours Degree level.

Arrangements are in place to ensure a seamless transition from the current PQ Framework to the new NI PQ Framework.  Candidates registered in the current UK PQ Framework for either the PQSW or the AASW are encouraged to complete these awards.  Both PQSW and AASW will continue to be recognised as Professional Awards.

“What is important is that all social workers, now all registered with NISCC, do continue with their post-qualifying development, through the transition period and beyond. So I would urge all to complete current qualifications as fast as possible and in particular those at PQ level which won’t be a feature in the new framework.”
Paul Martin, Chief Inspector DHSSPS. June 2006

There are a number of things to consider with regard to the change from the UK PQ Framework to the NI PQ Framework.

      UK PQ Framework

1. The current UK PQ (PQSW) and Advanced Awards (AASW) will cease to be awarded by NISCC on 31 September 2010. Despite the change the UK PQ awards, i.e. PQSW and AASW will retain professional recognition and value and will therefore not lose their relevance as a measure of professional competence.
   
   Candidates registered in the UK PQ Framework are urged to complete their award.
   
   

2. Academic programmes accredited for the UK PQ Awards have made arrangements to enable candidates to finish before September 2010.
   
   

3. Candidates currently registered/enrolled with the NIPQETP for UK PQ and Advanced awards via the accredited programmes route have until 30 June 2010 to complete their full awards and make a submission for the award. The PQ Partnership requires a period of time for processing before the final date in September 2010 when awards will be made.
   
   

4. The last submission date for PQ portfolios to the NIPQETP Assessment Panel is 1st Monday in March 2010.
   
   

5. Social workers qualified on or after April 2004 with the Diploma in Social Work must complete PQ1. Arrangements have been put in place to enable such candidates to achieve PQ1 until 31 September 2010. All submissions via programme routes must be made by 30 June 2010. Those submitting an individual portfolio to the Assessment Panel must do so by 1st Monday in March 2010.
   
   

6. Enrolment for the UK PQ awards has ceased except for recently qualified Diploma in Social Work holders who must complete PQ1.
   
   

7. Enrolment for PQ1 will cease on the 31st of March 2008.
   
   
   NI PQ Framework
   
   

8. The NI PQ Framework has been operational from the 1st of April 2007.
   
   

9. From April 2007 the two PQ frameworks have been running parallel to enable current candidates to finish the UK PQ awards and to provide a PQ Framework for newly qualified social workers with the Degree in Social Work and for all other qualified social workers seeking professional recognition of education and training.
   
   

10. Advanced Award AASW candidates can apply to transfer up to 3 AA Requirements into the NI PQ Framework.
    
    > Mapping AASW Requirements to NI PQ Framework   (Download PDF File)
    
    

11. PQSW candidates can not transfer Requirements into the NI PQ Framework.
    
    

12. The majority of programmes that had been accredited in the UK PQ Framework have transferred to new arrangements within accredited provision in the NI PQ Framework
    
    
    

Transition Dates from the Northern Ireland Social Care Council

“Key Dates and Arrangements for Transition; From the current Post Qualifying Framework to the new NI Post Qualifying Framework”. Sept 2006

(I)   Circular SSI (Training) 1/2002

(II)   The Council will have arrangements in place to extend this deadline in exceptional circumstances as laid out in the Rules for the Approval of Post Qualifying Education and Training in Social Work in Northern Ireland 2006 Section 11 (2).