Exploring seriousness in social work regulation:
How does the concept of seriousness shape FtP proceedings and outcomes?

Our team has recently delivered a major evaluation for Social Work England that will support more consistent fitness to practise (FtP) decision-making and identify opportunities for greater clarity and alignment across the social work sector.

To achieve this, we explored how “seriousness” is understood, interpreted, and applied within fitness to practise proceedings in regulation.
Drawing together interviews with regulators across the UK, focus groups with Social Work England employees, case analysis, and findings from a detailed literature review, the research examined both areas of consensus and the growing complexity surrounding regulatory decision-making.

The evaluation found strong agreement around behaviours widely viewed as serious, including abuse, breaches of professional boundaries, criminal conduct linked to harm, and dishonesty that undermines public trust in social work professionals.
However, many cases proved far less clear-cut.

Issues involving social workers’ private lives, social media use, discrimination, political protest, workplace pressures, and human error often generated uncertainty and debate. Rather than operating as a fixed threshold, seriousness frequently emerged as something shaped by context, intent, risk, remediation, professional standards, and public expectations.
The research also highlighted how evolving societal expectations and emerging issues continue to challenge existing fitness to practise frameworks, requiring regulators to adapt their approaches over time.

Alongside identifying the challenges in defining seriousness in social work regulation, the project surfaced opportunities to strengthen guidance, improve transparency, and support greater consistency in regulatory decision-making across the sector.

This project demonstrates the value of collaborative qualitative research, translating lived experience, evidence, and professional insight into practical learning that can help inform future policy, regulation, and practice.

Read our report here