BASW England statement on Social Work England’s decision to raise registration fees

The regulator has confirmed that the renewal fee will rise to £120 a year

BASW England will continue to stand with our members in holding Social Work England to account and will monitor closely the impact of these changes over the coming year.
We share the frustration felt across the sector not only around the sharp increase but the process by which this decision has been made.
Members are encouraged to write to the Professional Standards Authority, elected MP, the Prime Minister, Secretary of State and the Minister for Children and families and Minister of State for Care to raise your concerns, and we will also be doing this on your behalf.

The Prime Minister has set a clear expectation that public bodies must deliver with transparency, accountability and a renewed sense of public duty. This includes working in genuine partnership with those they serve. As he told the TUC in 2024: “I call now, as before the election… for the politics of partnership.”

Working in partnership with all citizens is a core principle of government. Social Work England is a non-departmental public body, operating at arm’s length from government and in receipt of significant central government funding. Despite receiving significant public funding, Social Work England continues to operate with a substantial backlog of Fitness to Practise cases, leaving many social workers in prolonged uncertainty. BASW supports high social work standards and public protection, these must be delivered through a fair and timely regulatory system rooted in respect for those it regulates.

Nearly 8,000 registrants took time from their demanding professional lives to respond to Social Work England’s consultation on proposed fee increases. Despite overwhelming opposition from respondents - with 96% disagreeing with the renewal fee increase for 2025 and 87% opposing the planned incremental increases to 2029 - SWE has confirmed it will proceed with the full 33% rise. No formal communication took place with BASW, pre this announcement. This is not a model of partnership leadership, nor does it reflect the spirit of collaboration expected of a publicly funded regulator.

Throughout the consultation period, our members made it clear that these proposals would exacerbate the financial pressures facing social workers and risk further damaging morale at a time of crisis in recruitment and retention. The decision to implement the full rise, without modification or meaningful concession, fails to reflect the scale of concern expressed across the sector.

The sharp increase will take the annual registration fee from £90 to £120 from 1 September 2025, alongside proportional rises in other fees - will hit hardest at early-career professionals, part-time workers, and those already struggling to remain in the workforce. Many of our members told us they feel they are being asked to pay more for a service they do not believe is improving in line with these costs. Concerns remain around the timeliness and quality of fitness to practise processes, the accessibility of support, and the overall value being offered in return.

Some registrants will vote with their feet and walk away from the register and regulator. Not all registrants use the protected title of social worker in their job descriptor. We urge our members to write to the Professional Standards Authority, elected MP, the Prime Minister, Secretary of State and the Minister for Children and families and Minister of State for Care to raise your concerns, we will also be doing this on your behalf.

This decision risks worsening the workforce recruitment and retention crisis

BASW England National Director, Maris Stratulis commented:

“Democratic processes of consultation become tokenistic when the voices of those who actively chose to engage are not listened to. Sadly, this reinforces and exacerbates the feedback we are receiving from our members that Social Work England is not fit for purpose and that as a regulatory body it is a drain on taxpayers’ money and finite government financial resources.

This decision risks worsening the workforce recruitment and retention crisis, and based on what our members are telling us, it has a direct impact on the views of reputational credibility and trust in the regulator.”

BASW England will continue to stand with our members in holding Social Work England to account and will monitor closely the impact of these changes over the coming year.