Monitoring Report - Social Work England 2024/25

This monitoring report covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2025.

Key statistics

• Social Work England maintains a register of social workers in England
• 105,590, professionals on the register (as at 31 December 2025)

Key findings and areas for improvement

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Social Work England has continued to meet Standard 3 this year. In particular, we noted that its engagement with the Witness to Harm project, including updating its guidance for witnesses and potential witnesses, amounted to good practice. However, we also note that Social Work England still does not collect diversity data for its Board members or for complainants. We will continue to monitor these areas in our next review period.

Continuing Professional Development

Social Work England has maintained its approach not to review any continuing professional development (CPD) records submitted by registrants following the renewal period, whilst it redesigns its approach to CPD. We acknowledge that there could be other ways for regulators to assure themselves that their registrants are fit to practise, but Social Work England had previously gained assurance through its CPD review. Having removed that review and not replaced it with any other system – but for some very basic checks – we do not think the processes in place are sufficient for Social Work England to satisfy itself that social workers continue to be fit to practise. Therefore, we decided that Standard 13 is not met.

Fitness to Practise

Social Work England has not met Standard 15 for the fourth consecutive year. This was due to our ongoing concerns about the time it is taking Social Work England to progress fitness to practise (FTP) cases at each stage of the process, and the large backlog of cases at the hearings stage. However, we note that it is clear Social Work England recognises the problem with its performance with respect to FTP timeliness, and it is taking a range of steps to try to improve its performance. In line with our Escalation Policy, we have written to the relevant Secretaries of State to provide an update on Social Work England’s performance.