Photo: Monkey Business/Adobe Stock
Social Work England is to hold a “national conversation” on the future regulation of the profession.
It is running a roadshow this autumn, to which it is inviting social workers, people with lived experience, employers, students, academics and representatives from sector bodies to discuss key issues relating to its role as regulator, in five events around the country.
Participants will be able to discuss:
- What Social Work England should prioritise in its next three-year strategy, covering 2026-29.
- The regulator’s plans for its future oversight of social work education. This includes a forthcoming consultation on new standards for providers of social work education, along with the implementation of guidance setting out expectations of new graduates’ knowledge and skills.
- The fitness to practise system, including how Social Work England can improve the timeliness of case progression and address the current high levels of delay, for which it has been given more money from the Department for Education.
- Its consultation on the future of continuing professional development, due in 2026.
The regulator’s executive director of professional practice and external engagement, Sarah Blackmore, said: “We encourage people to attend one of our regional events to tell us what they want for the social work profession and share their ideas and insight on the challenges. We want to know how regulation affects people’s day to day lives.
“Most importantly, we want our next 3-year strategy, and our proposed education and training standards, to be shaped by the people who will be impacted by them.”
The roadshow events take place in:
Each day runs from 9.30am to 3pm; you can book your place by clicking on the relevant link above, though tickets are limited.