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Equality, diversity and inclusion action plans

Read our latest equality, diversity and inclusion action plan.

Read the latest action plan

Learn about our plans for the year ahead with our action plan for 2024 to 2025.

Read this year's plan
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Equality, diversity and inclusion action plans

The principles of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are synonymous with being a social worker. Social workers champion people’s rights and support those that are marginalised. The social work profession is guided by values and principles of anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice. This means social workers are uniquely placed to lead the way in achieving equality.

Our purpose is to protect the public and raise standards across social work in England. We do this so that people receive the best possible support, whenever they might need it in life.

The Children and Social Work Act 2017 empowers us to regulate social workers in England. We ensure public protection by (doing all of the following):

  • promoting and maintaining professional standards
  • promoting and maintaining public health, safety and wellbeing
  • ensuring public confidence in the profession

As the specialist regulator for social workers, we’ll continue using our influence to promote social work’s role in addressing inequality.

Our legal and regulatory obligations

Our legal and regulatory obligations guide our approach to EDI. However, we aim to go above and beyond these duties.

We recognise that many people experience discrimination, bias and inequity. This extends beyond those with protected characteristics (as set out in legislation). For example, people with caring responsibilities, or lower socioeconomic status. We take an intersectional approach in our work. However, there are times when we need to focus on specific inequalities. We’ll continue to use our influence to promote EDI for all.

We are legally obligated to comply with the general equality duty, as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. This prohibits discrimination because of the following protected characteristics:

  • age
  • disability
  • gender reassignment
  • marriage and civil partnership
  • pregnancy and maternity
  • race
  • religion or belief
  • sex
  • sexual orientation

The public sector equality duty requires us to have due regard to the need to (do all of the following):

  • eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
  • advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. We should do this by (doing all of the following):
    • removing or minimising disadvantages people face due to their protected characteristics
    • taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups (where these are different from the needs of other people)
    • encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life (or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low)
  • foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care is an independent organisation. Their role is to help protect the public. They do this by improving the regulation and registration of people who work in health and care. They oversee the work of 10 regulatory organisations in the UK, including Social Work England.

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care’s Standards of Good Regulation came into effect in January 2020. Standard 3 requires that we understand the diversity of (all of the following):

  • our registrants
  • people accessing our services
  • others who interact with us

It also requires us to make sure our processes don’t (do either of the following):

  • create barriers for people
  • disadvantage people with protected characteristics

Read past equality, diversity and inclusion action plans

Get involved

Diversity of voices and perspectives is essential in our work. Share your voice with us, in whatever way suits you.

Learn more about contributing to our work

Our 6 professional standards are set out in blocks in 3 columns by 2 rows.

The professional standards are listed as follows:

1. Promote the rights, strengths and wellbeing of people, families and communities.

2. Establish and maintain the trust and confidence of people.

3. Be accountable for the quality of my practice and the decisions I make.

4. Maintain my continuing professional development.

5. Act safely, respectfully and with professional integrity.

6. Promote ethical practice and report concerns.

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