Welcome to Professionalism & Professional Standards for Social Workers (Social Work England) (Professionalism SWE)

Welcome to this course

This course covers the standing-practice side of Social Work England’s Professional Standards: being accountable for the quality of your practice and decisions, maintaining continuing professional development, and promoting ethical practice by raising concerns. Our companion Ethics course covers the relational and reasoning-based standards, rights and wellbeing, trust and confidence, and safety and integrity.

Social Work England’s standards are written in the first person, “as a social worker, I will…”. This course keeps that same genuine register throughout.

By the end of this course you will be able to

  1. Make accountable, evidence-based decisions within legal and ethical frameworks, guarding against bias
  2. Work genuinely with others, delegating appropriately and keeping records that serve the next reader
  3. Maintain continuing professional development that genuinely reflects on your own practice and values
  4. Raise concerns properly, about harm, your own working environment, or a colleague’s practice
  5. Apply every standard together in a real, tangled situation, worked through a complete case

Who this is for

Any social worker registered with Social Work England, at any career stage, across children’s services, adult services, and every practice setting.

Please read this first

This course explains professional standards and the reasoning behind them. It is not legal advice and does not replace representation. If a concern has been raised about your registration, speak to your defence organisation or professional body before you act. This course discusses safeguarding and risk in general, professional terms; it does not include graphic case detail.

Structure How this course is organised +

Five modules, four knowledge checks, and a final 15-question assessment. Score 80% to unlock your certificate.

  • Module 1 — accountable decision-making, evidence, and guarding against bias
  • Module 2 — working with others, delegation, and records
  • Module 3 — continuing professional development
  • Module 4 — raising concerns and promoting ethical practice
  • Module 5 — applying every standard together, with a complete worked case

Around 2.5 hours in total, worth 2.5 CPD hours.

Pairs with Ethics & Ethical Standards for Social Workers (Social Work England) +

These two courses are designed as a pair, covering Social Work England’s six Professional Standards between them, without duplicating each other.

Back to Course