Lack of sufficient funding is threatening the future of the profession.
Survey results released by the Social Workers Union (SWU) today highlight alarming pressures facing social work departments across UK universities, raising significant concerns about the future of social work education and, ultimately, the social work profession itself.
The survey of social work academics in UK university-based programmes, revealed that 70% of respondents reported a decrease in funding for their social work departments over the past year. This has translated into a challenging environment for students and educators alike, with over half (57%) of respondents saying that teaching staff in their department have faced redundancies. Additionally, 22% reported long-term vacancies among social work staff, which has exacerbated the challenges in delivering quality education for students.
Student experience and retention is an additional worry for teaching staff, with 78% of respondents stating that some students have left their programmes without completing their course and 83% reporting concerns about either the working conditions, or the quality, of work placements for their students.
Most concerning is that 52% of respondents fear their social work course may face closure in the near future, a reality that could have dire consequences for the profession and lead to a shortage of qualified social workers across the country. The recent changes surrounding student visa holders have further complicated matters, with 70% of staff surveyed stating these changes have impacted their programmes over the past year.
The stress of this situation has also taken a toll on social work department staff. 26% said they don’t feel valued at all in their roles, and 96% reported experiencing negative emotional responses such as crying or feeling unwell due to their jobs over the last year. Sadly, 78% stated that their job has worsened their mental health or caused its collapse within the same time period.
John McGowan, SWU General Secretary, said:
“Social work educators are currently operating under unacceptable pressure due to insufficient funding and support, which is affecting both the quality of education for students and the future of the profession.
“The role of social work in our society cannot be overstated, without adequate investment in university-based programmes and the academics who lead them, we risk jeopardising the very foundation of social care. Without immediate action, the long-term repercussions will be dire for staff, students and the vulnerable people who rely on the invaluable support of social workers.”
Allison, a social work academic and teacher at a UK university, said:
“In the last 18 months our staffing team has been cut by 40% through voluntary exit. Years of experience have just gone and the volume of work left behind has not reduced. We’ve lost vital professional service staff, creating even more work and pressure on academic staff which is simply unsustainable. As a female academic who is also neurodivergent and from an ethnic minority, I feel even more vulnerable and unable to manage the multiple spinning plates.”
Bernadette, another social work academic and teacher at a UK university, added:
“The increasing use of fixed-term contracts in social work education has implications not only for staff, but for the profession itself, shaping how we sustain values, continuity, and commitment in training future practitioners. On a personal level, this uncertainty can make it harder to remain ambitious and fully invest in long-term goals, even while staying dedicated to the work. It raises important questions about how we nurture a confident, stable academic workforce that can both thrive and drive the future of social work.”