One in seven social workers surveyed say they will forfeit their right to practise over Social Work England's registration fee hike, a poll has found.
The findings follow widespread criticism from practitioners and sector bodies of the regulator's decision to raise the annual renewal and initial registration fees by 33%, to £120, and increase charges for those wishing to return to the register and overseas applicants by equivalent amounts.
The regulator has said the rises are designed to help it manage higher than expected costs, including in relation to fitness to practice cases, and to rebalance the income it receives from social workers with its grant funding from the Department for Education (DfE).
With the renewal period now open, until 30 November, most respondents (82%) to a Community Care poll with about 1,750 respondents - equivalent to just under 2% of the registered population - said they were “dissatisfied with the fee” but would still renew their registration.
However, one in seven (14%) expressed their intention to boycott the fee, which would lose them their right to practise.
Price hike 'beyond comprehension'
A couple of social workers in the comments of the related article also reported that they would be leaving the register.
Paul said he had already notified the regulator that he wouldn’t be renewing his right to practise.
Another practitioner, Garth, added: “How they can justify the price hike is beyond comprehension. EVERYONE should boycott!”
However, Ian B defended the fee increase, pointing to the fact that the charge was now the same as that paid by nurses and midwives, which has stood at £120 since 2015.
“I can’t be the only one to think that the claim that an increase of 57p per week in the fee is going to drive people out of the profession seems very overdramatic,” he said.
“The fee hasn’t gone up for donkey's years. If anything, the regulator should have started raising the fee earlier in smaller increments, rather than putting it up by 33% five years in.”
‘It is illegal to use the title of social worker without being registered’
Paying the annual fee - which most social workers do by direct debit, in two instalments, in October and April - is one of three requirements for registration renewal, along with completing the application form and submitting two pieces of CPD, one of which must have been reflected upon with a peer.
In response to the findings, Sarah Blackmore, Social Work England’s executive director of professional practice and external engagement, said practitioners should be aware that boycotting the fee would inevitably mean relinquishing their right to practise.
“Social worker is a protected title. It is illegal for anyone to use the title of social worker unless they have completed the required training and are registered with us,” she said.
“Our registration renewal period is now open. Social workers who do not renew their registration by 11.59 pm on 30 November will be removed from the register.”
Will social workers leave register over fee rise?
Similarly to our poll results, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), the Social Workers Union (SWU) and UNISON have warned that the fee rises risk driving “more professionals out of the sector, further jeopardising vital services and the safeguarding of vulnerable children and adults”.
The size of the register has grown consistently in recent years, from 98,637 in March 2020 and 100,654 in November 2022 to 105,454 in June this year, with 98% of practitioners renewing their registration in each of the past two years.
How far this trend will be bucked as a result of the fee rise is hard to predict. However, social workers face significant disincentives to not paying the renewal fee.
The £30 increase in annual costs will likely be substantially outweighed by the loss of income from losing the right to practise social work in most cases.
And should practitioners leave the register and wish to return, they would face a much steeper fee for restoring their registration: £180, up from £135 previously.
How council social workers and guardians work together
We are looking for local authority social workers and children's guardians to share their experiences of working with each other during care proceedings.Did you have a good experience or a less-than-ideal one? How did you approach sharing information and collaborating to ensure the child's best interest was the focus of all discussions? What would be your advice to fellow practitioners in the same position?
Share your thoughts through a 15-minute interview, to be published on Community Care as part of our From the Front Line series, to help others learn from your experience. This can be anonymous.
From the Front Line invites social workers to share their experiences on various topics and running issues within the sector. We're always keen to hear what other experiences you'd like us to feature through this format.
To express an interest in taking part or tell us what you'd like to see covered next, email our community journalist at anastasia.koutsounia@markallengroup.com.
