Equality, diversity and inclusion quarterly update
Read our equality, diversity and inclusion quarterly update for July to September 2026.
Equality, diversity and inclusion quarterly update
Continuing commitment to tackle inequalities and discrimination
This update is for the period July to September 2026.
Alongside our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan for 2026 to 2027 we’re aiming to bring you some of the highlights of the work completed each quarter.
Our work this quarter
Social Work England retains gold standard in equality and diversity
We are proud to receive a gold Talent Inclusion and Diversity Evaluation (TIDE) award for the second year in a row.
Since starting our TIDE journey in 2021, we have progressed from bronze in 2022, silver in 2023 and 2024 and have now received gold for the second consecutive time.
The TIDE benchmarking tool allows organisations to measure how they are performing in diversity and inclusion across 10 key areas.
We received an overall score of 93%, demonstrating our continued commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across our organisation and maintaining high standards. These results also recognise and celebrate the progress we have made since 2021.
You can read more in our news story: Social Work England retains gold standard in equality and diversity
Bias awareness and fair decision-making training for fitness to practise partners launched
We have strengthened our focus on fairness, inclusion and decision-making in response to recommendations from the Lord Mann review into antisemitism and other forms of racism in the health and social care sectors. We have done this by developing a new 2-part learning programme for fitness to practise partners. The programme forms part of our ongoing work to support equitable and proportionate decision-making.
We have scheduled 4 sessions for each part across October and November 2026.
The first part builds partners’ understanding of Social Work England’s approach to EDI and co-production. It explores how bias, assumptions and unconscious judgements can influence decision-making in fitness to practise. It also introduces practical strategies to support fair and evidence-based decisions.
The second part uses examples from partners’ practice to help them apply their learning, reflect on their decision-making and consider how they can reduce the risk of bias. Overall, the programme aims to support fair and consistent decisions that take account of relevant context without relying on assumptions.
Social Work England stands against racial and religious discrimination
Social Work England has publicly condemned racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination, while highlighting the practical steps we are taking to advance equality, support social workers, and improve fairness across the profession. You can read more in our news story: Social Work England stands against racial and religious discrimination
Diversity data in our fitness to practise process: a report on our updated research and analysis published
In September we published our latest research and analysis of diversity data in our fitness to practise processes. This found that social workers who are male, aged 40 and over, and from Black/African/Caribbean/Black British backgrounds continue to be overrepresented at several stages of the fitness to practise process.
The report highlights actions we have already taken in response. This includes:
developing fair referral principles with employers
supporting the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard (SC-WRES)
providing equality and human rights training for staff, and reviewing decision-making processes to improve fairness and consistency
our east region anti-racism pilot
our continuing engagement with our single point of contact network
We remain committed to tackling inequalities and racism. Looking ahead, we plan to:
undertake more detailed case reviews
conduct advanced statistical analysis to better understand the causes of these disparities and identify evidence-based improvements to its fitness to practise processes
develop an EDI focused fitness to practise report
work with the Department for Health and Social Care and other regulators to consider findings from the Lord Mann review.
You can read more in our update on our analysis of diversity data in our fitness to practise processes
National inclusion week and a spotlight on our fair referral principles workshops
The theme of this year’s National Inclusion Week was ‘Build Trust, Navigate change’, recognising that inclusion requires more than intention alone, it requires ongoing action, accountability and a willingness to keep moving forward, even through periods of change.
To mark the week, we ran an organisational wide session on our fair referral principles and news that our strategic engagement team are delivering fair referral principles workshops in their regions, with invitations sent to the single points of contact in each region.
Contact your regional engagement lead if you want to find out more about the workshops.
--
We will continue to update you on our EDI work each quarter. For further information about our EDI work visit our website or read our EDI and action plan for 2026 to 2027.
Archive updates
