Nearly £1 million investment announced as National Social Work Agency launches
The NSWA has officially launched, accompanied by a major £994,000 Scottish Government investment.
The National Social Work Agency has officially launched on World Social Work Day, accompanied by a major £994,000 Scottish Government investment to strengthen social work professional learning and address workforce pressures across Scotland.
Delivered through the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), the funding targets critical areas of learning and development:
- up to £610,000 to fund 64 new social workers to qualify through funded distance learning routes
- up to £150,000 to support postgraduate certificate fees funding through universities for up to 100 practice educators
- up to £234,000 to support funded places for up to 50 students on Mental Health Officer (MHO) training
These measures directly respond to national workforce challenges, particularly in high demand areas such as mental health and practice education.
National Chief Social Work Adviser and the agency’s Chief Executive, Joanna Macdonald, welcomed the investment:
‘This represents a significant step forward in strengthening the profession. It allows us not only to widen access to qualification routes, but also to invest meaningfully in the development of practice educators and Mental Health Officers – areas where we know the workforce is under real pressure.
‘By supporting learning at every stage of a social worker’s career, we are building a confident, capable and resilient workforce equipped for the challenges ahead. This funding will help ensure social workers have the skills, support and opportunities they need to improve outcomes for people and communities across Scotland.’
The funding accompanies the publication of Valuing Practice: Scotland’s Framework for Social Work Education and Learning, which sets out a single national approach to social work learning from qualification to retirement.
The launch event, hosted by The Open University, was attended by practitioners and students, practice educators, employers and universities. Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, announced the investment funding, the launch of the agency and the publication of Valuing Practice. Joanna Macdonald, Chief Executive of the National Social Work Agency, and Maree Allison, Chief Executive of the SSSC, were also in attendance alongside colleagues from both organisations.
The National Social Work Agency will now lead national improvement and workforce development for social work, working in partnership with local government, COSLA, Social Work Scotland and the SSSC.