Social workers split on when their online posts should be held to professional standards

Social workers are divided on whether or not their online posts should be judged against professional standards, a poll has found.

This follows Social Work England’s publication of draft guidance for fitness to practise staff on handling concerns about practitioners’ online communications and considering whether they breach its professional standards.

The key standard states that practitioners must not “use technology, social media or other forms of electronic communication unlawfully, unethically, or in a way that brings the profession into disrepute”, though others, such as not abusing or discriminating against others, or condoning such acts, are also relevant.

Assessing online content under fitness to practise

This would include considering whether practitioners had disclosed confidential information, engaged in harassment, bullying, or threatening behavior, used offensive language (including incitement to violence), or made discriminatory comments toward individuals with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

They should then consider whether the posts call into question the social worker's fitness to practise, including by weighing up whether the views expressed were in a personal capacity and how far they were shared.

The regulator has emphasised that there would be a “high bar” for interfering with social worker’s right to freedom of expression.

Around 42% of respondents said this should only occur when posts directly affected service users or public trust in social work, while 37% believed this should always be the case, since a practitioner’s posts reflected on their professional identity.

However, one in five (21%) felt it was never appropriate, on the grounds that online posts were a form of self-expression that was separate from work.

‘Regulator should not censor our beliefs’

“There are many forums that arguably social workers should not be on," said Peter. "Toxicity does not give Social Work England or our employers the privilege to monitor and censor our beliefs.

“One person’s offensive views are another person’s cultural values. Leave us to be as mushy or as horrid as we can be within private conversations. The alternative is subjugation to ill-informed speculation.”

One practitioner claimed the guidance would not prevent practitioners being “maliciously referred” over their personal views.

“What legitimate concern is of a regulator what free citizens express and discuss between themselves in private settings?”

‘I may well laugh at offensive jokes in the pub’

“I was brought up in pubs and spent 10 years on factory lines; I may well laugh at offensive jokes in the pub or find some memes funny, does this mean I shouldn’t be helping people as a social worker?” they added.

“I say it makes me human, which very much helps in my work.”

Consultation process

You can respond by completing this online survey or emailing consultation.responses@socialworkengland.org.uk

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