Social workers believe the Budget will bring cuts and job losses for the sector, a Community Care poll has found.
On 30 October, chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget allocated £600m in grant funding for social care in 2025-26 as part of a £1.3bn package for councils.
Combined with other revenue increases, this would see local authorities’ available budgets rise by around 3.2% in real terms next year.
However, Reeves also announced a 6.7% rise in the national living wage and an increase in employer national insurance contributions.
Sector leaders have warned that these tax and wage hikes risk swallowing up the extra grant funding, leaving little or nothing to address spending pressures.
In a recent poll amassing 661 votes, most social workers (65%) echoed this concern, predicting the Budget would lead to further strain, cuts and layoffs for the sector.
Only 13% called it a positive step forward, albeit a small one, while 22% said it was too early to determine the impact.
One social worker, Pam, commented that she was recently laid off by her employer, a children’s charity, due to cuts made as a result of the Budget.
“We have elected politicians, who live a life of wealth [and] privilege whilst the vulnerable, elderly, and working class are expected to foot every bill going, and work for free,” she said.
“As for the social work profession, we have nobody to blame except ourselves, as for years we have put up with and taken this nonsense, and still nobody wants to strike and fight for our rights.”
What do you think will be the Budget’s impact on social care?
Celebrate those who’ve inspired you
For our 50th anniversary, we’re expanding our My Brilliant Colleague series to include anyone who has inspired you in your career – whether current or former colleagues, managers, students, lecturers, mentors or prominent past or present sector figures whom you have admired from afar.
Nominate your colleague or social work inspiration by either:
- Filling in our nominations form with a letter or a few paragraphs (100-250 words) explaining how and why the person has inspired you.
- Or sending a voice note of up to 90 seconds to +447887865218, including your and the nominee’s names and roles.
If you have any questions, email our community journalist, Anastasia Koutsounia, at anastasia.koutsounia@markallengroup.com
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 
Hampshire County Council 
Oxfordshire County Council 
South Gloucestershire Council 
Wokingham Borough Council 
Webinar: building a practice framework with the influence of practitioner voice 
‘They don’t have to retell their story’: building long-lasting relationships with children and young people 
Podcast: returning to social work after becoming a first-time parent 
How managers are inspiring social workers to progress in their careers 
Workforce Insights – showcasing a selection of the sector’s top recruiters 
Facebook
X
LinkedIn
Instagram
Not rocket science, increase employers Nat Insurance and other reforms bound to stagnate economy, result in job losses or lack of job creation.
G8ve itb6 months and we will all be suffering.
“Cant wait to retire”
In Hampshire the generated. MARS.
Mutually agreed resignation Scheme
You can apply to leave for a financial pay out.this submit to agreement with senior management
It is subjected to. Tax,agreement and years in.
Also you can’t work for another SE authority for six months.
There will be some who will go for it,
The out come and fall out,may come over the hill latter.