How do we know whether social services are meeting the needs of people and using resources effectively? What evidence persuades politicians to support social work and social services? What happens when professionals or services fail to live up to required standards? What is proportionate expenditure on regulation?

People and governments are interested in supporting and controlling those with problems related to health, disability, unemployment, relationship breakdowns and poverty, reflecting moral, religious, political and financial concerns. Governments seek to influence and direct those who provide these services, through management, setting of standards, provision of education and training, monitoring of performance and financial controls. These regulations provide rules and guidance about activity and finance.

This chapter describes regulation of ‘social work’ and social workers in England, focusing on regulation of services through inspection and of individuals through professional registration. Regulation by legislation, and through qualifications frameworks, are covered in other chapters. Financial controls and audit arrangements are regulation, but are not covered here (MHCLG, 2019). The differing arrangements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are acknowledged, noting the growing divergence between them.

The chronic institutional instability in recent years since the abolition of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work in 2001, caused largely by constant political meddling, must have undermined improvement and contributed to uncertainty and lack of confidence.

Managing performance of social services: the role of Inspection

The 1970 Local Authority Social Services Act gave the government power to issue guidance to local councils, and the 1990 NHS and Community Care Act added the power to give directions/instructions. Inspection and performance management have been powerful levers for this purpose.

Inspection can focus on compliance (enforcement) and/or improvement (efficiency) (Rhodes, 1981), which may be seen as ‘punitive’ or ‘supportive’ (Davis et al, 2001b). Functions can include: monitoring policy implementation; enforcing accountability; providing evidence about resourcing; providing consultancy and advice; encouraging innovation; and reporting to Parliament.

Social services inspection can be traced from the Elizabethan ‘Act for the Releife of the Poore’ of 1601 (Slack, 1998), through to the 2012 Welfare Reform Act (Smith 1866, Corbett and Markham, 1867; Younghusband, 1981; Roberts, 1991; Rivett, 2005). A restructured Children's Inspectorate, in response to the 1948 Children Act (developed from the inspectorate created in 1850 to inspect industrial and reformatory schools) was located in the Home Office (Heywood, 1979).