Joint statement issued over ‘ongoing significant concerns’ with social work regulator

As the registration renewal period opens, BASW, Unison and the Social Workers Union have issued a statement challenging Social Work England’s registration fee hike and called for greater accountability for the regulator.

The organisations warn that the regulator’s approach risks exacerbating the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis in social work, placing additional pressure on an already struggling workforce and threatening the quality of vital services.

The decision follows a public consultation in which nearly 8,000 registrants — 96% of respondents — opposed the increase. Despite this overwhelming opposition, Social Work England has chosen to proceed without significant amendments, prompting criticism over its transparency, accountability, and engagement with the profession.

“Our members feel Social Work England’s consultation gave a false impression that their opinion really mattered when all along the intention was to disregard their views and add pressure to an already struggling profession,” the statement read.

“We fear this decision will drive more professionals out of the sector, further jeopardising vital services and the safeguarding of vulnerable children and adults.”

Professional networks, including the Adult Principal Social Worker Network and the Principal Children and Families Social Worker Network, also raised concerns, but their input appears to have been disregarded.

The approach contrasts sharply with that of the Scottish Social Services Council, which recently scaled back planned fee rises after significant opposition during its own consultation.

The statement highlights growing dissatisfaction among social workers over what they perceive as poor value for money from the regulator. Ongoing delays in Fitness to Practise processes — with some registrants advised that hearings will not be scheduled until after March 2026 — are causing severe emotional, financial and professional strain.

The organisations are now calling for a series of urgent measures to address concerns, including a Professional Standards Authority (PSA) review. They say the PSA should examine both the process and outcome of the consultation to determine whether Social Work England has met its statutory duties around transparency and proportionality.

They also demand the Immediate commencement of the statutory five-year review—a review, due under the Children and Social Work Act 2017, which should already have begun and must include consultation with social workers and their representatives.
They also call for more Parliamentary scrutiny over the decision, as well as a comprehensive evaluation of Social Work England’s performance to assess the regulator’s effectiveness, value for money and handling of key processes, particularly Fitness to Practise cases.

The three organisations are encouraging social workers to raise concerns directly by writing to their MPs and the Professional Standards Authority. They are also inviting affected professionals to share personal experiences of how the fee increase and regulatory delays are impacting their work and wellbeing.

“The voices of social workers and the organisations representing them must be heard. The future of the profession and the people we serve depends on it,” the statement concludes.