More than half of adult social workers (52%) are facing increasing severity and complexity of need within their caseloads, while workforce capacity and resources continue to lag behind demand, according to a new survey by the Local Government Association.
The findings raise fresh concerns about the sustainability of the adult social work workforce, with the LGA calling on government to strengthen financial support and align social work funding models with those available to other public service professions.
In 2025, local councils in England employed more than 56,000 children’s and adult social workers, delivering statutory services that protect and support children, families and vulnerable adults.
However, results from the LGA’s 2026 Adult Social Care Employer Standards Health Check survey show that, while overall employer standards have continued to improve, serious challenges remain widespread.
Local authorities report persistent:
- Workload pressures and rising stress levels
- High vacancy rates and difficulties with retention
- Shortages of high‑quality practice placements
- Challenges maintaining safe staffing levels
Nearly half (48%) of non‑registered social care workers surveyed also said they frequently experience excessive pressure in their roles.
In its submission to the Department of Health and Social Care consultation on reforms to the Social Work Bursary (SWB) and Education Support Grant, the LGA warns that current funding levels are insufficient to support safe, high‑quality placements for social work students.
High vacancy rates, placement shortages and retention challenges mean that financial support for social work students must be strengthened if the profession is to remain viable in the long term.
The LGA emphasises that both undergraduate and postgraduate training routes are critical, and that improving support for one pathway must not come at the expense of the other.
To remove financial and practical barriers to entering the profession, the LGA is urging targeted support for:
- Disabled students
- Students from low‑income backgrounds
- Those with caring responsibilities
It has called for the continued use of a Social Work Hardship Fund that is open to all student groups, alongside a needs‑based approach to ESG allocation.
The LGA argues that funding arrangements for social work should be better aligned with nursing, allied health professions and teaching, helping to ensure parity across essential public service roles.
The LGA also stresses that any reform of the SWB and ESG schemes should help widen participation and strengthen training quality.
Chair of the LGA’s Local Government Resources Committee, Cllr Pete Marland, commented:
“We must protect overall investment in our future social workers to secure a stable pipeline of talent for the sector.
“Councils and higher education providers need stable, predictable funding that enables effective planning and supports students to choose social work, and stay in the profession, so we can continue delivering vital services for local people.
“Social workers deliver an essential public service in every community – safeguarding our children, ensuring delivery of good care for disabled and older adults, and supporting community wellbeing. The financial backing for this workforce should recognise that contribution and align social work support models with equivalent public service professions.”
Proposed priorities include:
- Improving participation for care‑experienced, disabled, low‑income and mature students
- Enhancing travel and placement reimbursement
- Supporting return‑to‑practice routes
- Improving the quality and availability of practice placements
Without these changes, the organisation warns that workforce shortages and service pressures will continue to grow, placing further strain on social care systems already under intense demand.
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