Social Work England will not review a sample of practitioners’ continuing professional development (CPD) records following the current registration renewal process, the regulator has revealed.
It has launched a review of its approach to CPD, during which it has suspended its usual practice of having independent assessors check the anonymised submissions of 2.5% of registered practitioners – about 2,500 social workers – selected at random.
The news comes a month after Social Work England launched the annual three-month registration renewal period, which closes on 30 November 2024.
Who will have CPD checked?
The only people whose records will be checked following the 2024 renewal period are practitioners who were selected for review following the 2023 round and whose CPD was then found not to meet requirements.
This was the case for 57 practitioners – 2.3% of the practitioners whose records were reviewed – meaning they were given advice on improving their CPD.
The regulator said their records would be checked to “ensure that social workers have taken the advice provided on board and applied it to their CPD”.
Despite dropping its usual review of practitioners’ CPD records, the regulator stressed that its requirements for registrants – submitting two pieces of CPD, one of which should have been reflected upon with a peer – remained.
It said it would continue to monitor whether these were being met. This will include ensuring that social workers do not submit two identical CPD records.
Help in meeting Social Work England requirements
A subscription to Community Care Inform Adults or Children makes it easy for you to fulfil Social Work England’s annual requirements to record continuing professional development (CPD) so that you can stay on the register. Find out why by reading our comprehensive guide on how you can use Inform to make the most of your CPD.
The CPD review process
The regulator has reviewed the records of 2.5% of social workers since its first registration renewal period in 2020, to check compliance with its professional standard on CPD, as required by the Social Work Regulations 2018.
The reviews have been carried out by independent assessors, who are a mixture of social workers and lay people.
Since 2022, when Social Work England introduced the requirements for practitioners to submit two pieces of CPD, up from one, and to have reflected on one with a peer, assessors have checked whether:
- There was a clear description in at least one piece of CPD of the impact of the activity on the social worker’s practice.
- The social worker had discussed at least one piece of CPD with a peer.
When both requirements were met, the social worker’s CPD was approved. If at least one was not, their record was reviewed, independently, by a second assessor.
If that assessor also did not approve the record, the social worker was flagged to have their CPD reviewed the following year and was sent the first assessor’s feedback.
‘A good time to review CPD approach’
The wider review of CPD requirements fulfils a commitment in Social Work England’s 2024-25 business plan to review its approach to registration renewal to ensure it “offers the right balance between public protection, public confidence in the profession, and efficiency”.
It also pledged to learn more about how social workers used CPD.
In a statement, Social Work England said that, having taken responsibility for regulation five years ago, now was a “good time” to review its CPD requirements.
It said the review would look at how the process provided assurance to the public about the safety and effectiveness of social workers’ practice and how it supported practitioners to evidence that they were meeting the regulator’s professional standards.
To inform the process, it has launched a short survey of social workers and others with an interest in the profession.
This asks how far respondents believe annual registration ensures the register remains up to date and accurate and gives the public and employers confidence in the profession, and how far they see CPD as vital to maintaining professional standards in social work.
‘We will continue to monitor CPD requirements’
Social Work England’s executive director – regulation Philip Hallam said: “While we carry out this work, individual CPD records will not be selected for review by independent assessors.
“As in previous years, all social workers wishing to renew their registration must submit two pieces of CPD on their online account by 30 November as normal.
“We will continue to monitor that social workers are meeting the requirements – for example, confirming that the CPD records social workers provide are unique.”
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That’s a novel way of saying they have financial and staffing “gaps”. Or it’s yet another example that quality, vigour and accountability isn’t too much of a concern. Performative regulation being exposed by every decision made. Not as clever as they think are they.
I wonder if there will be a reduction in membership fees?
Given their priority is revenue generation there will not be a reduction in the registration fee. That doesn’t of course prevent an increase in say 12 months time.
To the extent £45 has been taken towards next year’s registration, even though I have informed SWE of my intention to leave the profession having retired!
Having retired, I recently notified my intention to leave the register however £45 has been taken towards next year’s fee which will not be refunded! Social Work Enhland must be short of money. How many social workers who don’t renew will be paying half towards a professional qualification they no longer require!
The Subs haven’t been much of a problem but the unnecessary stress Social workers go through with this CPD recording
I imagine not. But there should be
Sadly the CPD standard for our profession is appalling already … now it’s pure farce
Please one cpd is enough, no clue of how busy social workers.The NHS do cpd once in 3 years.
Horrendous regulator, whose approaches serve to weaken public trust. A review of the ethics and effectiveness and professions confidence in them an urgent requirement.
You would think that they would keep the current system utill the outcome of the survey- unless they can’t afford to do it. Had such high hopes for this regulator – why does social work alway get a duff deal,
I am hoping that they are redeploying staff/resources, to deal with the backlog of concerns that they are taking years to investigate. Leaving many of our colleagues in limbo, some unable to work and no doubt living with daily distress and anxiety.
Equally on the other side delay will know doubt allow some individuals to remain in positions of power and trust when really they should no longer be fit to practice
I don’t understand why social workers are required to complete 2 pieces of written documentation. It’s time consuming. It proves we can write a mini essay. Medical professionals ask colleagues to answer questions about their performance. Isn’t that a more accurate gauge of whether are competent and uphold standards?
Excellent point!
Although I believe that Social Workers should continue to increase their knowledge base. Social Work England says it helps assess workers fitness to practice. However they don’t seem to have the same scrutiny around individuals who are reported to them. I registered a concern about a Social Workers practice 2 years ago and I still don’t know the outcome. Is this still awaiting triage if so that’s disgraceful
I preferred the old way of recording CPD. I hate the new form and all of the boxes, it is really demotivating. A free text option with some prompts would be much better for all of us.
What was – and still is – missing in the system is engagement with LAs, seeking to ensure that they exercise their own responsibilities for the quality of their workforce alongside individual practioners through CPD activity…
Here’s my suggestion for change / improvement:
1. Discuss with LA’s / ADASS / PSW network if there managers / leaders could participate by “signing-off” the 2 pieces of evidence
2. Insert a question on the SWE CPD process: “Has this CPD been signed-off by your Line Manager?
No doubt there are complications which would need to be worked out such as those SWs who don’t have a SW Line Manager but these can be overcome, surely …
SWE is recognising it has insufficient resources to fulfil it’s role. Will it acknowledge that front line Social Workers are also insufficiently supported with regard to respect by managers for the 37 hour working week?
Hence Social Workers are not supported in keeping on top of recording so they can then be referred to SWE for investigation by Local Authorities. It’s bullying. There are insufficient bodies on the frontline, simple.
Is this the new Evidence Based Practice?