97% of social workers retain right to practise following latest registration renewal round

Record numbers of social workers have retained their right to practise following the latest registration renewal round, the regulator has reported.

Social Work England said 102,888 practitioners renewed their registration following the 2024 renewal period, up from 100,495 last year.

The increase reflects the growth in the size of the register in England over the past year, with a similar proportion of registrants (97.4%) renewing in 2024, compared with 2023 (97.3%).

A similar number also failed to complete the renewal process compared with last year (2,198, as against 2,256 in 2023).

Three-stage renewal process

This year, 103,429 social workers had to complete all three stages of the registration process – paying the fee, completing the application form and submitting two pieces of continuing professional development, one of which must have been reflected upon with a peer.

This was because they were registered before 1 September 2024 and were not among the 1,422 who were taken off during the renewal process after requesting voluntary removal.

Of this group, Social Work England indicated that 100,738 (97.4%) successfully renewed, with 2,181 not completing the process. Most of those who did not renew failed to complete a combination of the three tasks.

In addition, 2,150 of the 2,167 social workers who joined – or were restored to – the register during the three-month renewal process successfully renewed.

The remaining 17 were removed because they did not pay the registration fee, their sole requirement. Social workers generally pay the £90 cost in two equal direct debits, taken on 1 October and 1 April.

Applications to restore registrations

Since the renewal period closed on 30 November 2024, 283 social workers have requested to have their registration restored, compared with 319 at a similar point in 2023.

This is an indication of the number of social workers who did not renew while wanting to remain in the profession. This number may well rise, as Social Work England received 495 restoration applications in December 2023.

Restoration costs an additional £135 and practitioners cannot practise as, or call themselves, a social worker while their application is pending.

‘A demonstration of the importance of professional standards’

Commenting on the outcome, executive director of regulation Phillip Hallam said: “With over 97% of social workers renewing their registration by the deadline, this is a demonstration of the importance that those on our register place on maintaining their skills and upholding their professional standards.”

Hallam said Social Work England had used emails as the main way to remind social workers of their renewal requirements, complemented by text messages sent to some practitioners setting out what they had left to do.

“We have seen a continued trend for social workers who take action on the last day of the registration renewal period,” he added.

“We remind social workers that the earlier they complete all parts of the registration renewal process, the less likely it is they will be removed for failure to complete their application in time.”

He pointed to the fact that 165 practitioners were removed simply for failing to complete the CPD requirements, which Hallam pointed out could be carried out at any time during the year.