Independent Review of Social Work Regulation: England

The Government are taking a step today to ensure that social workers can continue to support and protect the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our society by announcing an independent review of Social Work England. This statement to the House sets out the scope of the review and the timeline for delivery.

Under section 64 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, the Secretary of State for Education is required to commission an independent person to undertake a review of the operation of part 2 of the Act. The review will cover the period from December 2019 to September 2025.

The Secretary of State for Education has appointed Dame Annie Hudson to conduct a review to ensure the regulation of social work is fit for purpose and continues to benefit both the professionals it oversees and the individuals it aims to protect.

Dame Annie was appointed for the wealth of experience and knowledge she has of social work, both as a former social worker and her roles as former strategic director of children’s services for Lambeth London borough council and former director of children’s services for Bristol city council. She was also chief executive of the college of social work and more recently chair of the child safeguarding practice panel.

The primary focus of the review will be to assess how effectively Social Work England is discharging its statutory functions and delivering against the objectives set out in the Act, which are:

To protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and well-being of the public;

To promote and maintain public confidence in social workers in England;

And to promote and maintain proper professional standards for social workers in England.

The review will engage in a call for evidence, review the evidence available and consult representatives and those with expertise or experience of social work as required by the Act.

Through this statement we are committing to assessing:

The establishment of SWE and the transfer of powers from the health and care professions council to SWE.

The regulatory mandate of SWE as set out by the 2017 Act, and to reviewing the Social Workers Regulations 2018, to understand how SWE is delivering against the legislation in co-ordination with other bodies concerned with the delivery of social care functions in England and the devolved Administrations.

SWE’s governance and accountability mechanisms, including reporting on activities and providing information and advice.

The effectiveness and efficiency of SWE’s core regulatory functions: registration, professional standards, education and training standards, and approval, including for approved mental health professionals and best interests assessors, and fitness to practise.

The delivery of the Secretary of State’s powers as set out in the 2017 Act in relation to SWE’s fees income; grants; oversight of SWE’s transparency and performance; the use of improvement standards as set out in the 2017 Act for social workers; and to ensure adequate provision of social work training.

How SWE’s functions relate to the wider social work landscape, with particular reference to how initial education and training standards and professional standards align with others, including those from Government.

In addition, the review will consider the current model of professional regulation for social workers and make recommendations on whether any changes to SWE’s delivery of its functions are needed to enable more efficient and effective regulation and/or to improve the standards of social work practice.

The review will commence from today, 5 November 2025, and is expected to conclude by spring 2026. The report and a Government response will be laid before Parliament.

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