19
January 2026
Submission to the Higher Education Inquiry
The Higher Education Inquiry and the APPG on Health have launched a new inquiry into how education and training can better support the NHS, producing evidence‑based recommendations to tackle workforce shortages and strengthen long‑term training pathways.
In our submission, we set out the challenges facing the mental health social work workforce and the consequences for NHS services. Drawing on over a decade of programme delivery and partnerships with trusts, we highlight how shortages, limited training routes, and stretched practice education capacity weaken the pipeline of skilled practitioners.
Across our work, we see that services thrive when social work is properly valued, when training is accessible and sustainable, and when practice education is supported. Yet national workforce planning gaps, financial pressures, and rising demand continue to strain capacity.
Our submission calls for:
- Recognition and investment in social work within NHS workforce planning
- Sustainable, inclusive training routes to expand the pipeline
- Stronger practice education capacity with protected time and clear pathways
- Closer collaboration between education providers and the NHS