Overview
BASW has gained core participant status for Module 6 on Adult Social Care and Module 8 on Children and Young People for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
The inquiry will examine the response to and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic across the UK, aiming to learn lessons so that the UK is better prepared for any future pandemics. It covers the whole of the UK, although Scotland is also carrying out its own, separate inquiry.
As core participants, BASW can suggest questions, make opening and closing statements, and recommendations to the inquiry with a focus on social work specific issues. Public Hearings for module six took place in July 2025, with module eight currently underway.
Evidence
BASW UK Interim Chief Executive and National Director for England and Wales, Professor Sam Baron gave evidence at the Public Hearing on Module 8 in October 2025.
Our evidence for this module focused on the impact of the pandemic on children and young people, where we highlighted the 'perfect storm' in children’s safeguarding brought on by Covid-19 lockdown measures, lack of guidance and PPE, and existing workforce shortages being exasperated. We're grateful to the hundreds of BASW members working in Children's services who shared their views and experiences with us to inform our evidence to the Inquiry.
Then BASW Chief Executive, Dr Ruth Allen gave evidence at the Public Hearing on Module 6, which focused on adult social care, in July 2025.
We've also produced a summary of the session, which covered issues such as access to PPE and testing for social workers, availability of social work specific national guidance, the scandal of ‘do not resuscitate’ notices being given to covid patients, decisions around hospital discharge, and the impact of the pandemic on the social work workforce.
Every Story Matters
BASW sought views from members in November 2024 to inform the views we shared with the Inquiry for module six on Adult Social Care. We also consulted with members in July 2025 ahead of module eight on Children and Young People.
To ensure that the Inquiry is as well informed as possible about the pandemic's impact on the UK population, it set up a listening exercise called Every Story Matters. This was an opportunity for all those currently aged 18 and over to share their experiences with the Inquiry. In total, over 58,000 responses were made through the platform, which closed in May 2025. All evidence gathered will be collated, analysed and fed into their investigations through summary reports. BASW encouraged members to share their views through Every Story Matters.
Support
We understand that sharing your personal experiences of the pandemic will be difficult. The inquiry has support services in place, including the option for self-referral to their emotional support partner, Hestia. Please see their website for more information.
