Other organisations that may be able to help

Last updated: 10 February 2021

• If we're not able to deal with your concern
• If your concern is about children’s social services
• If your concern is about adult social care services
• If your concern is about a social worker practising outside England
• If your concern is not about a social worker
• More support
  
  

If we're not able to deal with your concern

Social Work England can only deal with concerns about social workers that are registered to practise in England. You can search our online register to check whether a social worker is registered. 

Some concerns cannot be considered by us and are best dealt with by the social worker's employer. You can read more about when to complain to an employer.

We can't deal with complaints about social care services or employers of social workers. You can read more about what we can and can't investigate.

If you do not think that we can investigate your concerns, there may be other organisations that can better help you. If you need help deciding whether to raise a concern with us or another organisation, you can contact us on 0808 196 2274 or [email protected].

If your concern is about children’s social services

Ofsted regulates children’s social care services, making sure they’re suitable for children and vulnerable young people. If your concern is about children’s social care services, you will need to complain to Ofsted directly.

If your concern is about adult social care services

You will need to contact the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and adult social care services in England.

If you are unhappy with the outcome of your complaint, you can ask Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman to investigate.

If your concern is about a social worker practising outside England

We can only deal with concerns about social workers that are registered to practise in England. You will need to contact another regulator to raise concerns about social workers registered to practise elsewhere in the UK.

Social Care Wales
0300 30 33 444

Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)
02890 417600 02890 239340 (Text phone)

Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
0845 603 0891

If your concern is not about a social worker

If your concern is not about a social worker, Social Work England will not be able to consider it. You may want to contact one of the other healthcare regulators:

Chiropractors

General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
020 7713 5155

Dentist or other dental professionals

General Dental Council (GDC)
020 7167 6000

Doctors

General Medical Council (GMC)
0161 923 6602

Nurses and midwives

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
020 7637 7181

Optometrists or opticians

General Optical Council (GOC)
020 7580 3898

Osteopaths

General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)
020 7357 6655

Arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists, podiatrists, clinical scientists, dieticians, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, prosthetists or orthotists, radiographers, or speech and language therapists.

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
0800 328 4218

Pharmacists or other pharmacy professionals

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC)
020 3365 3400

More support

If you need support, including financial, legal and emotional, you can read more about organisations that may be able to support you. You can also contact Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) for free, independent and confidential advice.