Councils employed 1,900 more children’s social workers in September 2025 than 12 months previously, on the back of improved retention, with increases across all regions and the vacancy rate now at its lowest recorded level.
Last year saw the biggest annual boost to children’s social worker numbers since records began, Department for Education (DfE) data has revealed.
The number of registered social workers employed by English councils rose by 1,890 (5.2%), from 36,482 to 38,292 in the year to September 2025, while the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff increased by 5.4% (1,858) to 36,186 over the same period.
These were the biggest increases in percentage and numerical terms in the number of social workers employed by councils since 2017, when the DfE started collecting data on the workforce in the way it does now.
The rise took the size of the workforce to a new record high, replicating what has happened in council adults’ services.
Increases in social worker numbers were seen across all nine regions, with the biggest numerical rise (352 FTE staff) in the North West and the largest percentage boost (8%) in the East Midlands.
Improved retention drives workforce increase
Nationally, the rise in the size of the workforce was driven by improved retention, with FTE annual turnover dropping from 13.8% in 2023-24 to 11.9% in 2024-25, the lowest figure yet recorded.
Over the course of the year, 4,276 FTE social workers left their roles, the lowest figure since 2016-17 and 452 (10%) fewer than the number who departed in 2023-24.
There was also a year-on-year rise in the numbers of FTE staff starting at English councils, from 5,613 in 2023-24 to 5,838 in 2024-25. This reflects the fact that 2025 was a graduation year for the Step Up to Social Work programme, which trains people to work in children’s services every two years.
Growth in number not holding cases
In terms of roles, the biggest growth came in the number of practitioners who were not holding cases, a group that includes independent reviewing officers (IROs), child protection conference chairs and those in workforce development roles.
They accounted for a third of the rise (679) in the workforce, with their numbers increasing from 6,373 (18.6% of the workforce) to 7,052 (19.5%).
The only other role to see growth in representation was senior practitioners, who now account for 18.3% (6,606 FTE staff) of the workforce, up from 18% (6,179) in 2024, due to an increase of 427 in their number.
The number of case-holding social workers grew in numerical terms – from 13,896 to 14,498 FTEs – but fell in terms of their share of the workforce, from 40.5% to 40.1%.
Among senior and first-line managers, numbers were stable year on year but there was notable growth among middle managers, whose number rose from 1,704 to 1,820.
Vacancy rate hits new low
Meanwhile, the FTE vacancy rate hit a new low of 14.2% (5,965), down from 17.3% (7,189) in 2024 and a high of 20% (7,923) in 2022. This was driven by a record 17% annual fall in the number of FTE vacancies, amounting to a drop of 1,224 roles.
Vacancy numbers and rates fell in all regions, with the sharpest drop seen in Yorkshire and the Humber. There, the vacancy rate fell from 13.4% to 7.4% – the lowest of any region – with the number of FTE vacant posts dropping from 597 to just 331.
There were also marked falls in the vacancy rates in the East Midlands (from 16.3% to 11.8%) and West Midlands (from 18.2% to 14%), and while London continued to have the highest vacancy rate, this fell from 22.7% to 19.4% from 2024-25.
Social work caseloads measure falls again
Average social work caseloads, according to the DfE’s calculation, fell for the third consecutive year, dropping from 15.4 in 2024 to 15.2 in 2025.
The measure is calculated by dividing the number of children or young people allocated to FTE children’s social workers by the number of FTE practitioners – whether permanent or agency – holding cases.
While the number of cases held rose by 0.4% – from 320,461 to 321,661 – this was outweighed, proportionately, by the 1.5% growth in the number of practitioners holding cases, which increased from 20,804 to 21,105.
The caseloads measure is controversial as the average is lower than the number of cases held by many social workers. This is likely due to the fact that the DfE counts practitioners holding relatively few cases – such as managers – in calculating its measure, bringing down the overall average.
One negative trend in the data was a second consecutive rise in sickness absence rates, with the proportion of days lost among FTE staff rising to 3.5% in 2025, up form 3.4% in 2024 and 3.3% in 2023.
Directors welcome workforce boost but highlight pressures
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) gave the figures a cautious welcome.
The chair of its families, communities and young people policy committee, Helen Lincoln said: “It is encouraging to see an increase in the number of child and family social workers in post, reflecting a positive trend in recruitment into a profession that is both highly rewarding and can transform lives.”
However, she added: “While average caseloads have fallen, they do not reflect the growing complexity of need, and rising sickness absence highlights the ongoing pressure on our workforce.”
Source: Community Care, Mithran Samuel
