Moving to the UK as an Overseas Social Worker?

If you’re an overseas qualified social worker thinking about moving to the UK, you’ve probably already wrapped your head around the Social Work England registration, DBS checks, and figuring out which jobs you’re actually allowed to do.  But there’s a new piece of the puzzle you really need to know about: The Department for Education’s (DfE) statutory guidance on the use of agency child and family social workers.

This guidance came into force on 31 October 2024, with a transition period until 1 October 2025. And yes,  it does affect overseas social workers. 

Here’s how:

What is the DfE agency guidance?

The DfE has introduced strict rules for how local authorities in England can use agency (locum) child and family social workers. The guidance covers things like: when councils are allowed to hire agency workers, price caps on agency pay, minimum experience requirements, cool‑off periods, reference checks, and contract rules.

Why does this matter for overseas social workers?

When you move to the UK, agency work is often the easiest way to get started. Many overseas social workers choose agency roles because they start quickly, pay more, and allow you to try different teams. But the new DfE rules change the landscape.

1. You may not be able to start in an agency role straight away

The guidance introduces minimum post‑qualifying experience requirements. Agency roles are for experienced practitioners. If you’re newly qualified or your experience doesn’t match UK statutory child protection work, you may struggle to secure an agency role immediately.

2. Councils must prioritise permanent recruitment

Local authorities must reduce reliance on agency workers. This means fewer agency vacancies and more councils pushing candidates toward permanent roles.

3. Agency pay caps might reduce the financial advantage

The DfE has introduced price caps on agency rates. Agency work will still likely pay more but not dramatically more.

4. Longer onboarding and stricter checks

The guidance includes standardised reference templates and mandatory verification processes. This means agencies and councils will need more information from you before you can start.

5. Cool‑off periods may limit your options

If you take a permanent role first, you may need to wait before switching to agency work.

6. Adult social care is less affected

Good news: the guidance applies only to child and family social workers. Adult services have had some changes with councils prioritising permanent roles but adults roles are overall less impacted. 

Is moving to the UK still worth it?

Absolutely — the UK still needs social workers. But the path may look different now. Start your Social Work England registration early, be open to permanent roles, expect more checks, and prepare detailed evidence of statutory experience.

If you want help figuring out how this applies to your situation, feel free to reach out.

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