How to become a social worker in the UK
Registered social workers in England are regulated by Social Work England and typically enter the profession via an approved BA or MSc in Social Work. Newly qualified social workers (ASYE year) typically earn £31,000 to £36,000 outside London, rising to £38,000 to £47,000 with a few years of experience.
What a social worker does
Social workers help children, adults and families who face difficulty, risk or crisis. In the UK, most social workers are employed by local authorities in statutory children’s services and adult social care, with others working in NHS mental health teams, hospitals, voluntary sector organisations and independent practice.
- Undertake statutory assessments under the Children Act 1989 and Care Act 2014.
- Lead child protection investigations and adult safeguarding enquiries.
- Support looked-after children, care leavers and adopters.
- Work with adults with mental health conditions, learning disabilities and long-term care needs.
Registration and regulator
Social work is a protected title in the UK. Every practising social worker in England must be registered with Social Work England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own regulators.
- England: Social Work England
- Scotland: Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
- Wales: Social Care Wales
- Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)
- SOC 2020 occupational code: 2461 (Social workers).
Salary
Newly qualified social workers (ASYE year) typically earn £31,000 to £36,000 in most local authorities outside London, rising to £38,000 to £47,000 after ASYE for experienced practitioners. Senior and advanced practitioners can earn £45,000 to £55,000, and team managers £51,000 to £65,000. London and inner-city authorities pay a weighting on top. NHS-employed social workers follow Agenda for Change and typically sit at Band 6 (£39,959 to £48,117 in 2026/27).
Entry routes
There are three main routes into social work in the UK:
- Undergraduate: A three-year BA (Hons) in Social Work at an approved university.
- Adult learner: An Access to HE Diploma (Social Work) — a Level 3 QAA-regulated diploma, widely accepted as an alternative to A levels.
- Postgraduate: A two-year MSc or MA in Social Work for those with a degree in another subject.
- Employment-based: Frontline, Step Up to Social Work, and social work apprenticeships.
Access to HE — the adult route in
The Access to HE Diploma (Social Work) is a Level 3 qualification designed for adults returning to education without A levels. It is accepted by UK social work programmes as an entry qualification and can be studied online. Successful completion is typically enough to meet the academic entry requirement for an approved BA (Hons) in Social Work.