Fitness to practise referrals data
Data relating to our fitness to practise referrals and outcomes
Quarterly data relating to the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025
All referrals received
Concerns are raised with us about a social worker's fitness to practise. These can be raised by anyone. A referral is opened after we identified a social worker related to a concern. More information on our fitness to practise process can be found in our fitness to practise guidance.
For the period of 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025
- 631 fitness to practise referrals received
- 587 concerns received
The source of referrals received
We do not hold information on the source of all referrals received in the quarter. As this information is identified it will be added to the case information. This means numbers may change over time.
Known sources of referrals during the 3-month period:
For the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025:
- 56 referrals were received from employers
- 309 referrals were received from members of the public
- 28 referrals were received from other sources
- 238 referrals were received from unknown sources
The top 3 types of referrals opened
The themes listed below are overarching categories that include different reasons for making a fitness to practise referral. For further details please see the section on 'the top themes for the different sources of referral'.
Some referrals may include more than one type of concern.
We do not hold information on the type of concerns for all referrals received during the quarter.
As this information is identified it will be added to the case information. This means numbers may change over time. We have not included the unknown concern types in the data below.
Top 3 known themes for referrals opened during the 3-month period:
For the period of 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025:
- 164 concerns were received regarding professional practise issues
- 184 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 121 concerns were received regarding poor or inappropriate communication
The top 3 themes for different sources of referral
For the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025:
Source of referral: Employer
- 16 referrals opened regarding professional practice issues
- 20 referrals opened regarding dishonesty
- 14 referrals opened regarding safeguarding concerns
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 146 referrals opened regarding dishonesty
- 140 referrals opened regarding professional practice issues
- 101 referrals opened regarding poor or inappropriate communication
Source of referral: Other
- 10 referrals opened regarding criminal proceedings/involvement
- 7 referrals opened regarding dishonesty
- 5 referrals opened regarding poor or inappropriate communication
Triage outcomes for the different sources of referral
The triage stage of the fitness to practise process involves an initial assessment of the information received to decide if it is necessary to open an investigation. The triage outcomes data is based on the decisions that have been made in the quarter, not on the referrals that have been received in the quarter. We have only included outcomes in the below figures if we hold data on the source of referral.
For the period of 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025:
Source of referral: Employer
- 41% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 59% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 97% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 3% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Other
- 56% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 44% of concerns progressed to investigation
Case examiner outcomes for the different sources of referral
Stage 3 of the fitness to practise process, which follows triage and investigation stages, is where case examiners look at all available evidence and decide whether there is a realistic prospect that the fitness to practise of a social worker will be found to be impaired at a final hearing.
The case examiner outcomes data is based on the decisions that have been made in the quarter, not on the referrals that have been received in the quarter. This data will not align with the registration and fitness to practise data we also publish. This is because we have only included outcomes in the below figures if we hold data on the source of referral.
Note: Due to rounding, not all percentages add to 100%.
For the period of 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025:
Source of referral: Employer
- 25% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 20% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 55% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 55% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 18% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 27% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Other
- 8% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 54% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 38% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Hearing outcomes for the different sources of referral
The final stage of the fitness to practise process is the hearings stage.
The hearing outcomes data is based on the decisions that have been made in the quarter, not on the referrals that have been received in the quarter. This data will not align with the registration and fitness to practise data we also publish. This is because we have only included outcomes in the below figures if we hold data on the source of referral.
Hearing outcomes during the 3-month period for referrals from employers
For the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025:
Source of referral: Employer
- 0 no impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 0 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 0 impaired, warning order
- 0 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 2 impaired, suspension order
- 1 impaired, removal order
Hearing outcomes during the 3-month period from referrals from members of public
For the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025:
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 0 impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 0 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 0 impaired, warning order
- 0 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 0 impaired, suspension order
- 0 impaired, removal order
Hearing outcomes during the 3-month period for referrals from other sources
For the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025:
Source of referral: other sources
- 1 impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 0 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 0 impaired, warning order
- 0 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 0 impaired, suspension order
- 0 impaired, removal order
Types of referral categories
The types of referral listed on this page are overarching categories that include different reasons for making a fitness to practise referral. We use these categories to help us understand the varying reasons for fitness to practise referrals being received.
Many of the referral type categories have several sub-categories, examples of which are included in the below list. For the purpose of the data on this page, we have focused on the overarching categories and not the subcategories.
Bias and/or prejudicial treatment
Breach of professional boundaries
- Inappropriate relationships/ over-familiarisation with service user
- Inappropriately accessing records
- Undeclared conflict of interest
Consent
Criminal proceedings /involvement
- Caution, charge or conviction
- No further action
- Other resolution (such as community resolution)
- Under investigation
Dishonesty
- Dishonest conduct
- Falsification of records
- Lied within assessments
Domestic abuse
Employment issues
GDPR/data protection
Health
- Mental or physical health issues
- Substance abuse
Issue with decision social worker made or a conclusion in a report
Professional practise issues
- Content/quality of assessments
- Delay of cases
- Failing to follow statutory requirements or management instruction
- Issue with direct contact, for example, home visits
- Poor management oversight, record keeping or risk management
- Professional judgement/decision making
Poor or inappropriate communication
- Minor communication issues
- Offensive or derogatory language/views/conduct
- Repeated lack of reasonable engagement
- Threatening/aggressive
Private matter - family or neighbour disputes
Safeguarding concerns
- Poor risk management, harm reduction, response to concerns being raised
- Social workers' family are subject of social service intervention
Sexual misconduct
- In private life
- Within their position as social worker
Data archive
Quarterly reports
All referrals received
For the period of 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025:
- 802 fitness to practise referrals received during the 3-month period
The source of referrals received
For the period of 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025:
- 53 referrals were received from employers
- 425 referrals were received from members of the public
- 68 referrals were received from other sources
- 256 referrals were received from unknown sources
The top 3 types of concern for the referrals received
For the period of 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025:
- 260 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 250 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 170 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
The top 3 types of concern received for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025:
Source of referral: Employer
- 29 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 21 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 14 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 209 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 203 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 148 concerns were received regarding bias and/or prejudicial treatment
Source of referral: Other
- 22 concerns were received regarding criminal proceedings/involvement
- 15 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 14 concerns were received regarding poor or inappropriate communication
Triage outcomes for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025:
Source of referral: Employer
- 36% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 64% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 98% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 2% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Other
- 37% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 63% of concerns progressed to investigation
Case examiner outcomes for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025:
Source of referral: Employer
- 47% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 23% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 30% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 70% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 5% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 25% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Other
- 29% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 48% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 24% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Hearing outcomes for referrals from employers and members of the public
For the period of 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025:
Source of referral: Employer
- no impairment, no further action: 3
- no impairment, warning order: 2
- impaired, warning order: 4
- impaired, conditions of practice order: 1
- impaired, suspension order: 4
- impaired, removal order: 7
Source of referral: Member of the public
- impaired, warning order: 1
- impaired, removal order: 1
Source of referral: Other
- impairment, no further action: 2
- impaired, warning order: 2
- impaired, suspension order: 2
- impaired, removal order: 4
All referrals received
For the period of 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024:
- 330 fitness to practise referrals received during the 3-month period
The source of referrals received
For the period of 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024:
- 45 referrals were received from employers
- 55 referrals were received from members of the public
- 33 referrals were received from other sources
- 197 referrals were received from unknown sources
The top 3 types of concern for the referrals received
For the period of 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024:
- 56 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 68 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 23 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
The top 3 types of concern received for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- 35 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 18 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 10 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 31 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 25 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 15 concerns were received regarding bias and/or prejudicial treatment
Source of referral: Other
- 14 concerns were received regarding criminal proceedings/involvement
- 7 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
- 5 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 5 concerns were received regarding health
Triage outcomes for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- 32% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 68% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 97% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 3% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Other
- 65% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 35% of concerns progressed to investigation
Case examiner outcomes for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- 39% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 31% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 30% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 82% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 6% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 12% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Other
- 24% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 52% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 24% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Hearing outcomes for referrals from employers and members of the public
For the period of 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- 0 no impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 0 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 0 impaired, warning order
- 0 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 0 impaired, suspension order
- 2 impaired, removal order
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 0 impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 0 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 0 impaired, warning order
- 0 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 0 impaired, suspension order
- 0 impaired, removal order
Source of referral: Other
- 0 impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 0 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 0 impaired, warning order
- 0 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 0 impaired, suspension order
- 0 impaired, removal order
All referrals received
For the period of 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024:
- 373 fitness to practise referrals received during the 3-month period
The source of referrals received
For the period of 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024:
- 59 referrals were received from employers
- 74 referrals were received from members of the public
- 28 referrals were received from other sources
- 212 referrals were received from unknown sources
The top 3 types of concern for the referrals received
For the period of 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024:
- 82 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 55 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 42 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
The top 3 types of concern received for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- 41 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 17 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 14 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 26 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 24 concerns were received regarding poor or inappropriate communication
- 25 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
Source of referral: Other
- 9 concerns were received regarding criminal proceedings/involvement
- 6 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 6 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
Triage outcomes for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- 24% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 76% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 93% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 7% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Other
- 59% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 41% of concerns progressed to investigation
Case examiner outcomes for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- 36% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 27% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 36% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 90% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 5% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 5% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Other
- 23% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 42% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 35% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Hearing outcomes for referrals from employers and members of the public
For the period of 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- no impairment, no further action: 1
- impaired, suspension order: 2
- impaired, removal order: 3
Source of referral: Member of the public
- impaired, removal order: 2
Source of referral: Other
- impaired, conditions of practise order: 1
- impaired, removal order: 2
All referrals received
For the period of 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024:
- 349 fitness to practise referrals received during the 3-month period
The source of referrals received
For the period of 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024:
- 56 referrals were received from employers
- 99 referrals were received from members of the public
- 38 referrals were received from other sources
- 156 referrals were received from unknown sources
The top 3 types of concern for the referrals received
For the period of 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024:
- 54 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 75 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 48 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
The top 3 types of concern received for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- 23 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 18 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 17 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 47 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 39 concerns were received regarding poor or inappropriate communication
- 24 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 24 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
Source of referral: Other
- 19 concerns were received regarding criminal proceedings/involvement
- 6 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 5 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
Triage outcomes for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- 46% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 54% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 96% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 4% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Other
- 56% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 44% of concerns progressed to investigation
Case examiner outcomes for the different sources of referral
For the period of 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- 30% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 30% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 40% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 79% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 14% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 7% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Other
- 36% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 36% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 28% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Hearing outcomes for referrals from employers and members of the public
For the period of 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024:
Source of referral: Employer
- no impairment, warning order: 1
- impaired, conditions of practice order: 1
- impaired, suspension order: 3
- impaired, removal order: 2
Source of referral: Member of the public
- impaired, conditions of practice order: 1
Source of referral: Other
- impairment, no further action: 2
Data archive
Annual reports
All referrals received
For the annual period of 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025:
- 1,854 fitness to practise referrals received
The source of referrals received
- 228 referrals were received from employers
- 730 referrals were received from members of the public
- 180 referrals were received from other sources
- 716 referrals were received from unknown sources
The top 3 types of concern for the referrals received
- 473 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 447 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 274 concerns were received regarding poor or inappropriate communication
The top 3 types of concern received for the different sources of referral
Source of referral: Employer
- 115 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 80 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 54 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 262 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 306 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 218 concerns were received regarding poor or inappropriate communication
Source of referral: Other
- 72 concerns were received regarding criminal proceedings/involvement
- 32 concerns were received regardingdishonesty
- 40 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
Triage outcomes for the different sources of referral
Source of referral: Employer
- 34% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 66% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 96% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 4% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Other
- 54% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 46% of concerns progressed to investigation
Case examiner outcomes for the different sources of referral
Source of referral: Employer
- 39% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 28% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 34% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 81% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 7% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 12% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Other
- 28% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 44% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 28% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Hearing outcomes for referrals from employers and members of the public
Source of referral: Employer
- 4 no impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 3 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 4 impaired, warning order
- 2 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 9 impaired, suspension order
- 14 impaired, removal order
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 0 impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 0 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 1 impaired, advice
- 0 impaired, warning order
- 1 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 0 impaired, suspension order
- 3 impaired, removal order
Source of referral: other sources
- 4 impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 2 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 2 impaired, warning order
- 1 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 2 impaired, suspension order
- 6 impaired, removal order
All referrals received
For the annual period of 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024:
- 1,617 fitness to practise referrals received
The source of referrals received
- 337 referrals were received from employers
- 641 referrals were received from members of the public
- 194 referrals were received from other sources
- 445 referrals were received from unknown sources
The top 3 types of concern for the referrals received
- 505 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 392 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 273 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
The top 3 types of concern received for the different sources of referral
Source of referral: Employer
- 214 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 112 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 68 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 239 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 236 concerns were received regarding dishonesty
- 210 concerns were received regarding poor or inappropriate communication
Source of referral: Other
- 81 concerns were received regarding criminal proceedings/involvement
- 35 concerns were received regarding professional practice issues
- 35 concerns were received regarding safeguarding concerns
Triage outcomes for the different sources of referral
Source of referral: Employer
- 21% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 79% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 93% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 7% of concerns progressed to investigation
Source of referral: Other
- 52% of concerns were closed at the triage stage
- 48% of concerns progressed to investigation
Case examiner outcomes for the different sources of referral
Source of referral: Employer
- 33% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 27% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 40% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 84% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 5% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 11% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Source of referral: Other
- 45% of concerns were closed at the case examiner stage of the fitness to practise process
- 30% of concerns resulted in accepted disposal
- 26% of concerns were referred to the hearing stage
Hearing outcomes for referrals from employers and members of the public
Source of referral: Employer
- 12 no impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 3 no impairment, warning order
- 1 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 6 impaired, warning order
- 3 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 20 impaired, suspension order
- 11 impaired, removal order
Source of referral: Member of the public
- 1 impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 0 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 0 impaired, warning order
- 0 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 3 impaired, suspension order
- 1 impaired, removal order
Source of referral: other sources
- 6 impairment, no further action
- 0 no impairment, advice
- 2 no impairment, warning order
- 0 impaired, no further action
- 0 impaired, advice
- 2 impaired, warning order
- 0 impaired, conditions of practise order
- 4 impaired, suspension order
- 3 impaired, removal order