Regulator launches consultation on changes to education standards framework

Social Work England has launched three public consultations on proposed changes to the regulation of social work education and training, with the aim of strengthening the quality and consistency of courses across England.

The regulator is seeking feedback on revised education and training standards, new guidance on readiness for professional practice and updated education and training rules, following engagement with the sector and input from its Education and Training Advisory Forum (ETAF).

The proposed changes are designed to build on learning from Social Work England's first five years of regulation and its initial cycle of course inspections, while responding to wider developments in social work practice and higher education.

Under the proposals, the regulator would update the standards used to approve social work courses, ensuring students who successfully complete their studies are equipped to meet professional standards and protect the public when they join the social work register. Social Work England has also proposed streamlining existing guidance for course providers and incorporating it directly into the revised standards.

A new readiness for professional practice guidance is also being proposed to support education providers in using published knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs). The guidance would help universities and training providers map the KSBs to course content and monitor student progression throughout their studies.

In addition, revised education and training rules would clarify the responsibilities of Social Work England in regulating courses and reflect lessons learned during the regulator's first reapproval cycle.

Sarah Blackmore, executive director of professional practice and external engagement at Social Work England, said: “Excellent social work education equips the next generation of social workers to thrive in such an important role that supports our most vulnerable people. These proposals aim to create a strong, integrated framework for social work education that will improve the quality and consistency of education across the country. This will benefit students and the people they support while training and once they qualify.

“The proposals are rooted in what we have heard from course providers, students, practice educators and people with lived experience during our first cycle of course inspections and reflections on our first 5 years of regulation.”

Social Work England said the consultations form part of its wider ambition to ensure social work students and apprentices receive high-quality education and training that prepares them for practice and helps maintain public confidence in the profession.

The regulator is encouraging responses from organisations and individuals with an interest in social work education, including universities, training providers, social workers, students and people with lived experience of social work. Consultation responses can be submitted online, and a series of engagement events will be held during the consultation period.

The consultations close on 6 August 2026. Following analysis of the responses, Social Work England will submit any proposed changes to the Secretary of State for Education for approval.

The regulator said it intends to publish the consultation findings and final versions of the documents in autumn 2026. Education providers would then be supported through an implementation period, with the revised standards expected to be used during inspections from autumn 2027.