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Include mental health social workers in the 10 Year Workforce Plan with workforce projections.

Recommendation
Social workers make an essential contribution to tackling the broader determinants of health and mental health outcomes, yet we heard they are often deprioritised when budgetary pressures arise. The Government should recognise the important role of mental health social workers by including them in the upcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan. This should include projections for increases to the workforce to ensure that every person with an SMI has a named mental health social worker. (Recommendation, Paragraph 200)
Addressee Bodies
Department of Health and Social Care
Timeline
Recommendation age 0.5 yr
Report published 02 Dec 2025