If you plan to have a period out of social work you may wish to maintain your social work registration rather than letting it lapse. It is considerably easier to maintain an existing registration than letting your registration lapse - and then seeking to re-register.
If your social work registration has lapsed, you will need to re-register and to do this you will need to meet a number of conditions. Generally, the longer the period your registration has lapsed the higher the threshold of conditions you will need to meet.
For example, if you haven’t been registered for over two years, you’ll need to prove you’ve updated your skills and knowledge through supervised practice, formal study and private study known as your ‘updating period’. The number of hours and days required may vary depending on how long you’ve been out of social work and can range from 30 to 60 days.
Formal study can include distance learning (for example, a module provided by a university), e-learning, CPD courses (check BASW Events) and programmes by other organisations. Local authorities and universities sometimes run ‘return to social work’ courses, which can contribute to the days of practice required.
The first step is to check with your relevant regulator (Social Work England, the Scottish Social Services Council, the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, or Social Care Wales) the conditions for re-registration. See, for example, Social Work England's guide to returning to practice.
BASW’s Return to Social Work learning materials
Top tips for re-gaining experience to apply for social work roles:
- As a BASW student member you can access member only benefits via our student hub. We also offer bespoke support such as the student ambassador scheme, and nation specific support such as mentoring forums.. adding even more value to your membership.
- BASW membership supports every stage of your social work career - see our tailored BASW membership benefits
- Consider taking on similar roles (paid or unpaid) outside registered social work roles to provide relevant experience
- Shadow a registered social worker
- Approach agencies who may be able to find you a temporary job that is related to social work, but which does not require social work registration
- For supervised practice, contact previous employers, charities, voluntary organisations where there is a social worker in place who could supervise you, or try contacting an independent social worker through our Independents Directory
- If you are a BASW member, contact your BASW country office, for further advice, but please note that we cannot arrange supervised practice for re-registration applicants.
- Check out BASW's Jobs Board
Support for BASW members
In Scotland, a qualified social worker can register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) after a career break of more than 2 years with a 6-months condition during which essential learning and supervised practice needs to take place.
Supervised practice and learning takes place in a social worker’s workplace and not prior to registration, hence the 6 months condition. More information is available on the SSSC website.
Overseas qualified social workers looking to work in the UK
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Each of the four countries has its own social work regulator. To work as a social worker, you must be registered with the regulator in the country in which you wish to work.
First, check if your social work qualification meets the standards for registration with one of the four UK regulators. If you wish to apply to register, you’ll need to complete application forms, provide the relevant documentation and pay an application fee. The process of considering your application may take some time. If your application is rejected, you are unlikely to have your application funding returned – check the terms and conditions carefully before applying.
Once registered, if you do not already have a job with a sponsoring employer, there are various ways you can find social work jobs. Employers often advertise through social work publications, for example, Professional Social Work magazine, through the BASW jobs board website or through local authority websites. You may decide to use the assistance of a social work employment agency. These companies discuss your work experience and may be able to assist in securing either permanent or locum/temporary work in the UK. Most of these companies are ‘for profit’ and charge for this service.
- BASW Overseas Qualified Social Worker (OQSW) Programme. BASW has launched a new programme of continuing professional development (CPD), created for social workers who have trained overseas and have now moved / are planning to move to work in the United Kingdom.
Home Office UK Border Agency is responsible for securing the UK border and controlling migration. It holds information on sponsoring migrants under the points-based system. If you are not a British Citizen or from the EU or EEA, you’ll most likely need to obtain a visa through sponsorship via an employer who is registered as sponsor.
Information updated May 2024 and may be subject to change.
