Raise a concern as a member of the public
You may be raising concerns about your own care or acting on behalf of a friend or relative, or as a carer. If you are a social worker, and you want to raise a concern about another social worker, please complete the form for members of the public.
What we investigate
These are examples of concerns that we can investigate:
- serious or repeated mistakes in providing support, for example if a social worker has failed to identify a serious risk
- violence, sexual assault or indecency
- discrimination against the public, colleagues and others
- abuse of professional position
- serious breaches of a member of the public’s confidentiality
- failure to respond reasonably to a person’s needs, for example if a social worker fails to take a person’s emotional or physical needs into account
- criminal offence
- fraud or dishonesty
- serious concerns about knowledge of the English language
- serious concerns about the social worker's physical or mental health, for example if a social worker has a physical injury which is stopping them from doing their normal duties and as a result, putting people at risk
What we can't do:
We can't:
- give you professional advice about the service provided by a social worker
- help with claims for compensation
- pay compensation or fine the social worker
- make a social worker apologise
- give you access to or change records
- order a conclusion in a report to be changed
- investigate concerns about a social worker’s place of work
If we can't help
Before raising your concern, please make sure that we are the most appropriate organisation to help you.
We can consider concerns that are serious enough to raise doubts about a social worker's fitness to practise. If your concern is not about a social worker’s fitness to practise, you should raise it with their employer directly. You can read more about when to complain to the social worker’s employer.
To help you understand what we mean by 'fitness to practise' you may find it helpful to read our professional standards. The standards set out the requirements that we expect social workers to meet to be 'fit to practise'.
Complaints about social care services or employers of social workers are the responsibility of other regulators such as the Care Quality Commission and Ofsted.
You can read more about other organisations that may be able to help you with a concern.
Last updated: 28 November 2019