Social Work England consults on fees charged

Social Work England (SWE) is consulting on proposals to make changes to the fees it charges social workers, including new applicants.

The proposals are to increase our initial registration, renewal, restoration, and scrutiny fees from 1 September 2025. SWE are also proposing to increase them each year after by 1.85% until 2029.

Fees for social workers and applicants have not increased over the last 10 years. They were last increased in 2015 under the previous regulator the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

The consultation is open for 12 weeks to anyone who would like to provide feedback. It will close on Tuesday 13 May 2025.

Social Work England regulates social workers using a mixture of grant in aid funding provided by the government and fees paid by social workers. Our purpose is to ensure public protection by promoting and maintaining professional standards, promoting and maintaining public health, safety and wellbeing and ensuring public confidence in the profession. The fees we charge and the funding we receive help us to achieve this.

SWE said:

We have contacted everyone on the social work register directly to inform them of the proposed changes and their opportunity to respond to our public consultation. This communication should be received by all social workers within the next 24 hours.

Any final changes will need to be approved by government. We anticipate that we will publish a decision on this consultation in summer 2025.

Colum Conway, Chief Executive at Social Work England said:

“Fees for social workers have not changed in 10 years. We are proposing to increase fees from 1 September 2025 to make sure they are in line with inflation.

“These proposals will make sure our organisation is appropriately financed between grant in aid from the taxpayer and fees we charge social workers. They will also help us continue to meet our regulatory objectives of protecting the public, promoting public confidence in the profession, and maintaining professional standards for social workers in England.”

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