Social work unions condemn registration fee hike and call for urgent regulatory review

Three major organisations representing social workers in England—BASW (British Association of Social Workers), the Social Workers Union (SWU), and UNISON—have issued a joint statement expressing serious concern over Social Work England’s decision to raise the annual registration fee by 33 percent. The increase, from £90 to £120, takes effect on 1 September 2025, with further rises planned through to 2029.

The announcement has sparked widespread dismay across the profession. According to the joint statement, 96 percent of nearly 8,000 registrants who responded to the consultation opposed the fee increase. Their concerns were echoed by the Adult Principal Social Worker Network and the Principal Children and Families Social Worker Network.

Despite this overwhelming opposition, Social Work England has chosen to proceed with the increase without significant revision. The unions argue that this undermines the regulator’s commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement. They criticised the consultation process, noting that Social Work England interpreted the lack of response from the wider registrant base as tacit approval—a stance the unions described as flawed and dismissive of collective feedback.

The unions also highlighted the contrast between Social Work England’s approach and that of the Scottish Social Services Council, which recently revised its own fee proposals in response to similar opposition. They argue that as a publicly funded body, Social Work England should be held to a higher standard of public accountability.

Concerns extend beyond the fee increase. The statement points to ongoing delays in the regulator’s fitness to practise processes, with some registrants reportedly being told that hearings will not be scheduled until after March 2026. These delays, the unions say, have serious emotional, financial, and professional consequences for social workers, particularly given the additional government funding allocated to the regulator.

The timing of the fee increase is also under scrutiny. It comes amid a recruitment and retention crisis in social work and during a period of significant financial pressure for professionals. The unions warn that the decision could drive more social workers out of the sector, threatening the stability of vital services and the protection of vulnerable individuals.

In response, BASW, SWU and UNISON are calling for four urgent actions:

1. Intervention by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA): They urge the PSA to review the consultation process and outcome, assessing whether Social Work England has met its statutory duties with appropriate transparency and proportionality.

2. Immediate commencement of the statutory five-year review: Under Section 64 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, an independent review of Social Work England’s operations should have begun in December 2024. The unions argue that delays to this review have hindered accountability and informed decision-making.

3. Parliamentary scrutiny and government response: They call on MPs to question the rationale behind the fee increase, the lack of stakeholder involvement, and the regulator’s operational performance.

4. Comprehensive evaluation of Social Work England’s performance: The unions demand that the forthcoming independent review examine the regulator’s effectiveness, value for money, and particularly its handling of fitness to practise cases.

The statement concludes with a call to action for social workers to raise their concerns directly with MPs, the PSA, and the Independent Review of Social Care Regulation. The unions reaffirm their commitment to advocating for fair, accountable regulation and welcome dialogue with Social Work England, the Department for Education, and other stakeholders.

They stress that the future of the profession—and the wellbeing of those it serves—depends on meaningful reform and genuine engagement with the workforce.

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