Developing Practice in Social Work
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding how unregulated practice in social work can be developed and guidance, training and support targeted to improve outcomes and provision for people accessing adult social care services.
IRAS ID
364022
Contact name
Lyn Latchem
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Local Authorities (LAs) have a legal duty to meet the needs of vulnerable adults. To achieve this, LA’s employ Social Workers (SWs) to carry out assessments and other activities, including safeguarding work to protect people from abuse. The LAs also employ staff who work alongside SWs. The CI refers to these staff as Social Care Practitioners (SCPs). The SCPs do not have professional qualifications or training like SWs, and they are not registered with Social Work England, the specialist regulatory body for social work. Social Work England ensures that SWs are competent to perform skilled work with people who use services and carers, so that they can trust that minimum standards of safety, ethical conduct, and quality are met.
The SCPs may help reduce waiting lists. Yet, they may have minimal qualifications, or training and their ability to work with vulnerable people isn’t recorded. This is concerning as research shows that they are taking on more responsibilities and independently managing complex tasks and cases. This could place people who use services at risk of receiving poor service. If SCPs don’t receive regular training and supervision, there is a risk of unintentional consequences or harm to vulnerable people (Audit Commission, 2012).
The CI wants to find out more about the work of SCPs and how it compares with the work SWs do. The CI wants to find out whether people who use services and carers are receiving an effective service from SCPs, and what might be needed to improve it. It's hoped that the study will inform the provision of safer, better services and experiences for people and carers who use them. Better quality services might mean more targeted training, guidance and supervision for SCPs and making sure that their managers give them cases and tasks that they can do well.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
26/WA/0062
Date of REC Opinion
9 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion