As a result of consultations with the General Social Care Council (GSCC), the DoH has recommended that carers working in children's care homes, domiciliary care agencies, residential family centres and other care facilities should be registered with the Social Care Register and complete training to NVQ level 2 during their first period of registration.

Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis claims the move will increase the skills levels of frontline care staff:

"Registration over time will ensure better skilled and more accountable care workers who will be able to offer disabled people, older people and their carers a higher quality, more personalised service."

The Social Care Register applies in England only.