Establishing the National Social Work Agency
The National Social Work Agency (NSWA) will be established as an executive agency of the Scottish Government. It will lead excellence and drive change across social work in Scotland. The NSWA’s purpose is to champion the social work profession to ensure Scotland has a sustainable workforce for the future and to lead national improvements that will enhance the experience of people who need social work support.
Executive agency
The NSWA will operate in accordance with a formal framework, developed in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) Executive Agencies Model. This sets out the NSWA governance, accountability and reporting arrangements, and will be reviewed regularly to ensure ongoing compliance and effectiveness.
As an executive agency, NSWA will operate independently, while remaining accountable to Scottish Ministers for the standards of its work. Executive agency status safeguards the independence of professional advice, review and reporting, within the overall context of the National Performance Framework.
Role and remit
The NSWA will:
- advocate for all social workers (statutory, third sector, independent sectors), including students
- provide professional, impartial social work advice to Scottish Ministers
- report annually, via the National Chief Social Work Adviser, to Scottish Ministers on the state of Scotland’s social work services and workforce
- support the National Chief Social Work Adviser to provide national professional leadership
- hold policy responsibility and oversight of social work education and professional learning
- work with partners, including COSLA and Social Work Scotland, through the Scottish Social Work Partnership (SSWP), to have oversight of national workforce planning and workforce numbers
- enable collaboration and delivery of the Strategic Plan for Social Work in Scotland (2026–29), as part of the SSWP
- oversee improvement priorities and provide national implementation support
- enable ‘Once for Scotland’ initiatives, where a national approach for social work is required
Critical success factors
The following factors are critical to addressing the challenges facing social work in Scotland and to ensuring that the NSWA delivers lasting benefits for the profession and the people it serves. Successful delivery will depend on:
- strong leadership and governance: effective leadership from the National Chief Social Work Adviser and the NSWA Senior Leadership Team, supported by robust governance structures and transparent lines of accountability
- adequate resourcing: sufficient financial, human and technological resources to deliver the NSWA ambitions, including targeted investment in workforce development and digital infrastructure
- robust data and intelligence: access to high-quality data and analytical capacity to inform decision-making, monitor progress and drive continuous improvement
- collaborative partnerships: strong partnership working, aligning national and local efforts, including with the SSWP to deliver shared priorities and the SSWP Strategic Plan
- meaningful engagement: ongoing engagement with the social work workforce, students, people with lived experience, partners and the public to ensure the NSWA work is relevant, inclusive and co-produced
- culture of learning and adaptation: an organisational culture that values reflection, learning from feedback and evidence, and adaptability in response to changing needs and emerging insights
- clear communication: transparent, timely and accessible communication with all partners to build trust, manage expectations and celebrate progress
- sustained political and financial support: ongoing commitment from the Scottish Government and partners to provide the authority, resources and stability needed for the NSWA to deliver its objectives
Vision, aim and values
The NSWA will update its vision, aim and values based on feedback to reflect evolving needs and aspirations of the profession and those it serves.
NSWA vision (what success looks like for the NSWA)
- empowering Scotland’s social work profession to uphold social justice, protect rights and keep people safe across Scotland
NSWA aim (how the NSWA will work to achieve the vision)
- working in partnership with the social work profession, people with lived experience, and partners to strengthen practice, elevate the profession, shape policy and drive positive change
NSWA values (principles to guide actions, decisions and behaviours)
Values are shared. These values reflect the NSWA’s commitment to social work, the people it serves and the change it seeks to create:
- leadership
- collaboration
- excellence
- equity
Equality, diversity and inclusion
The NSWA will advance equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. It will meet Public Sector Equality Duty by mainstreaming equality considerations into policy, practice and workforce development. Equality outcomes will be monitored and reported, and procurement and employment practices will reflect the NSWA’s commitment to advance equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work.
Aligning to Scotland’s National Outcomes
The work of the NSWA will contribute to the Scottish Government’s national purpose: creating a more successful country where everyone can flourish through increased wellbeing, social justice and inclusive growth. The NSWA will contribute to Scotland’s National Outcomes, including the ambition that we:
- grow up loved, safe and respected so that we can realise our full potential
- live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe
- are well educated, skilled and able to contribute to society
- have thriving and innovative businesses with quality jobs and fair work for everyone
- respect, protect and fulfil human rights and live free from discrimination
- tackle poverty by sharing opportunities, wealth and power more equally