Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she will introduce statutory time limits for fitness-to-practise and cause-for-concern investigations by Social Work England.

The government does not currently propose statutory time limits for individual cases, as its immediate priority is ensuring Social Work England delivers sustained improvements to the timeliness and effectiveness of the process.

The department recognises the importance of resolving fitness to practise cases promptly, both to protect the public and provide timely outcomes for social workers. Social Work England is the independent regulator responsible for operating fitness to practise processes.

The Independent Review of Social Work Professional Regulation identified fitness to practise as a priority for improvement. In response, the government has asked Social Work England to deliver a comprehensive, end-to-end strategic improvement plan, including revised forecasts and timeliness performance measures. The department is strengthening its oversight and monitoring progress closely.