Mental health social work: a missing piece in the NHS workforce plan

In our latest blog, our External Affairs Officer, Florence, sets out why strengthening the mental health social work workforce is more urgent than ever.

The workforce is the heart of the NHS, but right now staff across the system are under immense pressure trying to deliver high-quality care without the time, resources or support they need.

The upcoming workforce plan, expected early next year, is an opportunity to change that: to create the right mix of roles, skills and support so that staff can thrive and people can get the help they need to stay well.

Mental health social workers are a vital part of the solution yet they weren’t included in the last NHS workforce plan, or mentioned in Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS. We’ve submitted evidence to the Department of Health and Social Care to highlight their impact and help shape the new plan.

In our submission, we’ve outlined the unique contribution that mental health social workers make in delivering personalised, holistic support that reflects people’s lives and circumstances.

Here are the key points we put forward:

A holistic approach to mental health

Mental health is not just a health issue, but a social one, shaped by the environments we live in, the relationships we have, and the systems that support us. A truly holistic approach to mental health recognises that wellbeing is influenced by every aspect of life: secure housing, stable employment, and freedom from poverty or discrimination. When people experience disadvantage, isolation, or instability, their risk of developing or worsening mental health problems increases. That’s why improving mental health outcomes requires coordinated action across health, social care, housing, education, and employment, not treating each issue in isolation.

When people experience disadvantage, isolation, or instability, their risk of developing or worsening mental health problems increases. That’s why improving mental health outcomes requires coordinated action across health, social care, housing, education, and employment, not treating each issue in isolation.

Within this broader approach, mental health social workers bring a unique and essential perspective to care. They look beyond symptoms to understand the wider factors affecting someone’s wellbeing, such as housing, relationships, financial pressures, trauma, and isolation.

They’re trained to work across different services and systems, helping people access the support they need and making sure their dignity and independence are respected. Whether it’s securing safe housing, navigating benefits, or connecting someone with local support, they help make care more responsive to real-life challenges.

Within NHS mental health teams, social workers strengthen the ability to manage complex situations, intervene early, and keep the focus on the whole person. They build trust, offer continuity, and help people stay well in their communities, reducing the need for emergency or hospital-based care. In a system under pressure, they provide vital support during gaps in clinical provision and help prevent crises before they escalate.

Supporting neighbourhood models of care

The NHS is shifting toward neighbourhood models of care, which aim to provide joined-up support close to home. These models focus on prevention and accessibility, but they will only succeed if mental health is treated as a core part of local services, not as something separate or specialist.

Mental health social workers are well placed to support this shift. They can work across NHS and council services, helping teams respond to the full range of challenges people face. Without them, there’s a risk that neighbourhood teams will rely too heavily on medical approaches and miss the wider context behind poor mental health.

A workforce at risk

Despite their impact, mental health social workers are underrepresented in the NHS. There are just 3,500 employed in NHS mental health services- only 2% of the workforce. By comparison, there are nearly 45,000 mental health nurses, reflecting a long-standing focus on clinical roles.

This isn’t about reducing clinical staff, it’s about recognising that mental health care needs a broader mix of skills. Without enough social workers, the system risks missing opportunities to support people earlier and more effectively, especially when social factors play a major role in someone’s mental health.

Think Ahead is a key route into the profession, recruiting and training over 1,200 mental health social workers with strong retention rates. However, the withdrawal of future funding means that, after 2027, there will be no funded training route into this vital role. With no alternative currently in place, there is a serious risk to the workforce supply.

What needs to change:

In our submission, we called for:

1. Recognition and investment in mental health social work, to ensure their unique contribution is valued and there’s a sustainable route into the profession.
2. Inclusion of mental health social workers in national workforce planning, so that they aren’t overlooked in future reforms.
3. Embedding mental health social work in neighbourhood teams and 24/7 community mental health centres.

Mental health social workers aren’t a luxury-they’re essential. Without urgent action, we risk losing a vital part of the workforce just when we need it most.