Social workers are currently undergoing scrutiny due to increased public fitness to practise concerns in England and widespread issues with workload, stress, and inadequate resources noted in surveys. In the UK, particularly England, Social Work England is receiving a surge in fitness to practise concerns, with a significant portion coming from the public. These concerns are impacting the regulator's ability to process cases efficiently, despite additional budget allocation. Simultaneously, a widespread annual survey of social workers in England highlighted persistent struggles with excessive workloads, administrative burdens, and a lack of adequate staffing, contributing to poor workplace well-being.
Why social workers are being looked into:
Fitness to Practise Concerns:
Social Work England has reported a significant rise in fitness to practise concerns filed by the public, which are being investigated.
Workplace Issues:
Surveys in England reveal that social workers are experiencing increased workloads and administrative burdens, alongside insufficient staffing levels.
Impact on Well-being:
The challenging working conditions contribute to a decline in the psychological well-being of social workers, with recent surveys indicating worsening conditions.
How concerns are addressed:
Public Complaints:
Members of the public can raise fitness to practise concerns with Social Work England.
Employer Investigations:
For issues related to a finished court case, concerns should first be raised with the social worker's employer, who will conduct their own investigation.
Social Work England Investigations:
Social Work England will conduct its own independent decision-making process to decide whether to investigate matters that have already been reviewed by a court or employer.
What you can do if you have a concern:
Contact the Employer:
If your concern relates to a past event and a specific social worker, you should contact their employer to allow them to investigate the situation first.
Engage with the Court System:
If the concern involves an ongoing court case, raise it with your legal representative or the court directly.
Raise with Social Work England:
You can also raise concerns with Social Work England, the professional regulator for social workers in England, to initiate a fitness to practise investigation. As there are too many children I'm the systems in uk essex England and will post more updates as they come thought please sign and share and promote the petition Social workers are currently undergoing scrutiny due to increased public fitness to practise concerns in England and widespread issues with workload, stress, and inadequate resources noted in surveys. In the UK, particularly England, Social Work England is receiving a surge in fitness to practise concerns, with a significant portion coming from the public. These concerns are impacting the regulator's ability to process cases efficiently, despite additional budget allocation. Simultaneously, a widespread annual survey of social workers in England highlighted persistent struggles with excessive workloads, administrative burdens, and a lack of adequate staffing, contributing to poor workplace well-being.
Why social workers are being looked into:
Fitness to Practise Concerns:Social Work England has reported a significant rise in fitness to practise concerns filed by the public, which are being investigated.
Workplace Issues:Surveys in England reveal that social workers are experiencing increased workloads and administrative burdens, alongside insufficient staffing levels.
Impact on Well-being:The challenging working conditions contribute to a decline in the psychological well-being of social workers, with recent surveys indicating worsening conditions.
How concerns are addressed:
Public Complaints:Members of the public can raise fitness to practise concerns with Social Work England.
Employer Investigations:For issues related to a finished court case, concerns should first be raised with the social worker's employer, who will conduct their own investigation.
Social Work England Investigations:Social Work England will conduct its own independent decision-making process to decide whether to investigate matters that have already been reviewed by a court or employer.
What you can do if you have a concern:
Contact the Employer:If your concern relates to a past event and a specific social worker, you should contact their employer to allow them to investigate the situation first.
Engage with the Court System:If the concern involves an ongoing court case, raise it with your legal representative or the court directly.
Raise with Social Work England:You can also raise concerns with Social Work England, the professional regulator for social workers in England, to initiate a fitness to practise investigation. Toddler murdered by grandparents 'failed' by system
Ethan Ives-Griffiths, a small toddler with messy brown hair and dark brown eyes, half smiling at the camera. He looks like he is in cot and is wearing a blue top
Image source,Family photo
Image caption,
Ethan Ives-Griffiths was murdered by his grandparents Michael and Kerry Ives
Brendon Williams
BBC News
Published
2 September 2025
Updated 3 September 2025
The aunt of a toddler murdered by his grandparents has said he was failed by social services, who she believes should have done more to check on his welfare.
Ethan Ives-Griffiths, two, was murdered by his grandparents Michael and Kerry Ives at their home in Garden City, Flintshire, while he was on the child protection register.
His mother, Shannon Ives, was convicted of causing or allowing his death, and child cruelty.
Their trial heard how social workers were not always able to gain entry to the home to check on Ethan.
Flintshire council said it was co-operating with an independent child practice review by the North Wales Safeguarding Board.
'My son was killed by his evil grandparents'
Published
18 July
Couple guilty of murdering two-year-old grandson