What is a Social Worker?

Louise Petty

November 13, 2026

5 min read

Social work can be a rewarding career, offering opportunities to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives. Social workers play an important role in supporting children, adults and families who may be experiencing difficulties such as abuse, neglect, disability, mental health problems, poverty or homelessness. In this article, we’ll explain what a social worker does, the responsibilities of a social worker and the qualifications and skills needed to become a social worker.

social work meeting with parents and child

A social worker is a trained professional who supports, protects and advocates for people who may be experiencing difficult circumstances or who need additional help to live safely and independently.

Social workers help individuals and families identify their needs, understand their rights and access appropriate support. They also have an important safeguarding role, which can involve assessing risks, investigating concerns about abuse or neglect and taking action to protect children or adults who may be at risk of harm.

Social workers are employed by a range of organisations, including:

Local authorities and council social services departments.
NHS hospitals and community health services.
Mental health services.
Schools and educational settings.
Charities and voluntary organisations.
Private healthcare and social care providers.
Residential care homes and supported accommodation services.

Social workers may also specialise in supporting particular groups, such as children and families, older people, people with disabilities or people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Because social work is a regulated profession in the UK, the title ‘social worker’ is protected by law, meaning that professionals must hold an appropriate qualification and be registered with the relevant regulator.

Although social workers and support workers both help people who need additional assistance, their roles, responsibilities and qualifications are different. Both roles are important in health and social care, and social workers and support workers often work together to make sure people receive appropriate care and support.

A social worker is a qualified and registered professional who assesses people’s needs, identifies risks and coordinates appropriate support. They may have statutory responsibilities, such as investigating safeguarding concerns, assessing whether someone needs social care support and making decisions about interventions to protect vulnerable people.

A support worker provides practical and emotional assistance to help someone manage their everyday life. This might include helping with personal care, preparing meals, attending appointments, developing independent living skills or accessing community activities. Support workers do not need to hold a social work degree or register as a social worker.

A social worker’s responsibilities depend on their specialism, employer and the people they support. However, their main aim is to promote people’s wellbeing, protect them from harm and help them achieve the best possible outcomes.

Typical social worker responsibilities include:

Assessing individuals’ needs, circumstances and support requirements.
Identifying potential risks, including abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Responding to safeguarding concerns and taking appropriate action to protect vulnerable people.
Providing emotional support, advice and guidance to individuals and families.
Developing care and support plans that reflect people’s needs and goals.
Advocating for individuals and helping them understand their rights.
Referring people to relevant health, social care and community services.
Supporting people to develop independence and manage changes in their lives.
Working with other professionals, including healthcare staff, teachers, police officers and housing teams.
Monitoring people’s progress and reviewing their support plans.
Keeping accurate records, writing reports and attending meetings.

Safeguarding is an important part of social work, particularly when supporting children, families and adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect.

Social workers have a responsibility to recognise potential signs of harm, investigate concerns and take appropriate action to protect people. This might involve carrying out assessments, speaking to individuals and families, visiting people’s homes and working with other agencies to understand the risks.

For example, a children’s social worker may investigate concerns about neglect or abuse within a family and assess whether a child is safe at home. An adult social worker may investigate concerns about financial abuse, neglect or physical harm involving an older person or someone with care and support needs.

Social workers play an important role in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, working alongside professionals such as teachers, healthcare workers, police officers and other social care staff to keep people safe from harm.

social worker meeting with elderly person

To become a social worker in the UK, you will need an approved undergraduate degree or postgraduate qualification in social work. You must also register with the relevant professional regulator. There are several routes into the profession, depending on your existing qualifications and experience:

GCSEs and A-levels

To apply for a university degree, you’ll need GCSEs in English and maths, alongside suitable Level 3 qualifications. Most universities ask for two or three A-levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC or T Level. Some may also accept an Access to Higher Education Diploma, which can be a useful route for mature students or career changers.

Social Work Degrees

An undergraduate degree in Social Work is the most common route into the profession. Degrees combine academic learning with practical placements, allowing students to develop their knowledge of social work and gain experience in real working environments.

Postgraduate Social Work Qualifications

If you already have a degree in another subject, you may be able to complete a postgraduate social work qualification. These courses are designed for graduates who want to retrain as social workers and include academic learning and practical placements, just like undergraduate courses.

Social Work Apprenticeships and Training Routes

There are also work-based routes into social work, which allow you to gain practical experience while working towards a recognised qualification. In England, options include:

Social worker degree apprenticeships – these combine paid employment with university study and practical training, allowing you to gain a social work degree without paying university tuition fees yourself.
Frontline – this graduate programme offers a route into children’s social work, combining academic study, practical experience and employment.
Step Up to Social Work – this is a government-led, intensive postgraduate training programme for graduates who want to work in children’s social care.

Social workers need a combination of hard skills and soft skills to be able to support individuals, assess risks and manage complex situations.

Social Worker Hard Skills

Hard skills are the technical and professional skills needed to carry out social work responsibilities, such as:

Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and legislation.
Understanding of social care policies and professional standards.
Ability to carry out assessments and identify risks.
Knowledge of health conditions, disabilities and mental health.
Understanding of child development and family dynamics.
Report writing and accurate record keeping.
Case management and care planning.
Knowledge of relevant referral pathways and support services.
Understanding of confidentiality and data protection requirements.
Ability to use digital systems and computer software.

Social Worker Soft Skills

Social workers also need strong interpersonal skills to build relationships, understand people’s circumstances and provide appropriate support. Important qualities include:

Being able to communicate clearly with individuals, families and other professionals, adapting your approach to suit different people.
Understanding other people’s feelings and circumstances without making assumptions or being judgemental.
Practising active listening, giving people the opportunity to express their concerns and making sure their views are understood.
Being resilient, managing emotionally challenging situations and coping with the pressures of the role.
Identifying challenges and finding practical solutions to help people improve their circumstances.
Managing multiple cases, prioritising responsibilities and meeting important deadlines with good time management skills.
Working effectively with other professionals and organisations to coordinate support.
Remaining calm and understanding when working with people who may be distressed, frustrated or reluctant to accept help.
Responding to changing circumstances and adjusting support to meet people’s needs.

social worker talking with mother and child and taking notes

If you’re interested in becoming a social worker, there are several routes you can take into the role depending on your current qualifications and experience. The following steps outline the typical process of becoming a social worker:

Step 1: Research the Role

Start by learning more about social work and the different areas you could specialise in. Consider whether you would enjoy working with children, families, adults, older people or individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. It can also be useful to gain experience in a health or social care setting, volunteer with a relevant charity or speak to a qualified social worker to help you understand the responsibilities involved and whether the role is right for you.

Step 2: Gain the Required Qualifications

Check the entry requirements for approved social work courses at universities or training providers. If you’re leaving school or college, you may need to gain suitable GCSEs and A-levels or equivalent qualifications first. If you already have a degree, you could investigate postgraduate social work courses or graduate training programmes.

Step 3: Apply for an Approved Social Work Course

Choose an undergraduate or postgraduate social work qualification, or apply for an appropriate apprenticeship or graduate training programme. Make sure your chosen course is approved by the relevant regulator, as completing an unrecognised qualification may not allow you to register and practise as a social worker.

Step 4: Complete Your Studies and Practical Placements

During your training, you will develop your understanding of social work theory, legislation, safeguarding and professional practice. You will also complete supervised practical placements, where you can gain experience working with individuals and families, carrying out assessments and developing support plans.

Step 5: Register with the Relevant Professional Body

Once you have successfully completed a recognised social work qualification, you must apply to join the professional register in the country where you intend to work. Registration is a legal requirement for anyone practising as a social worker in the UK. The four UK regulators are:

England – Social Work England.
Scotland – Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
Wales – Social Care Wales.
Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).

Step 6: Apply for Social Work Jobs

Once registered, you can start applying for social work positions in your chosen area of practice.

Newly qualified social workers in England can also undertake the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE). This provides additional supervision, training and support during the first year of professional practice, helping newly qualified social workers develop their skills and confidence. As you gain experience, you may then decide to specialise in a particular area, take on more senior responsibilities or progress into management, training or specialist practice.

Social workers play an important role in health and social care, supporting people through difficult circumstances and helping to protect those at risk of harm. If you have strong communication skills, empathy and a desire to help others, social work can offer a meaningful and varied career with lots of opportunities for continued development.