Children's social care: references and Social Work England checks

What children's homes and fostering services need on file for social workers and residential staff, and how to get references back without the chase.

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How do you check the Social Work England register?

Quick answer

Social Work England keeps the public register of social workers in England. Search it free on the Social Work England website by first name, last name or registration number to confirm the person is registered and see their current status. Record the date, the result and who checked on the staff file. RefAssure then collects and chases the written references.

Social Work England register checks

"Social worker" is a protected title in England. Anyone using it must be registered with Social Work England, the regulator that replaced the HCPC for social workers in 2019. Before a social worker starts, check the register yourself rather than relying on a copy of a certificate.

  • Search the public register on the Social Work England website by name, registration number or both. A batch search exists for checking several people at once.
  • Confirm the details match the person you are employing, and read the registration status. Social Work England explains what each status means on its site.
  • Look for any fitness to practise outcome attached to the entry and ask the candidate about anything you find.
  • Record and repeat. Keep a dated note of the check, and recheck at intervals during employment, as registration has to be renewed.

Agency social workers

Many children's services use agency social workers. Check the register yourself for each one, even if the agency has done so, and ask the agency to confirm which references and checks it holds. Keep your own record of what you saw.

For residential care workers who are not social workers, there is no register to check. That puts more weight on references, employment history and the DBS check.

Children's Homes Regulations 2015: what to hold.

Regulation 32 of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 covers the fitness of workers. Schedule 2 lists the information you need for each one.

Proof of identity

Proof of identity including a recent photograph.

Enhanced DBS

An enhanced criminal record certificate, with suitability information relating to children where the role is eligible.

Two written references

Two written references, including one from the person's most recent employer, if they have one.

Why earlier roles ended

Where someone worked with children or vulnerable adults before, verification of why that job ended, so far as reasonably practicable.

Qualifications

Documentary evidence of any qualifications the person considers relevant to the position.

Full employment history

A full employment history, with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps, in writing.

Care agency manager reviewing staff files at her desk

Written references, without the chase.

Schedule 2 asks for written references, so a phone note is not enough. RefAssure gets each one in writing, signed, with a record of how it arrived.

  • Candidate consent collected online, with a signature, before referees are contacted
  • Add your questions on suitability to work with children, conduct and reason for leaving to your template once
  • Referees reply on a secure link with no login, and sign the reference
  • Bounced emails flagged, usually within minutes, so you can fix the address
  • A PDF audit trail with timestamps for consent, requests, reminders and completion, ready for an Ofsted inspector
Chase status page showing each referee timeline with email and text reminders

Referees chased while you run the home.

5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days, stopping the moment the referee replies.

Day 0Request by email, plus a text if you add a mobile
Day 2Polite reminder email
Day 5Reminder email and a second text
Day 8Overdue reminder
Day 12Final reminder, then you are told

Children's social care questions

More in the full FAQs.

How many references does a children's home need?
Schedule 2 of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 asks for two written references, including one from the person's most recent employer if there is one. Ofsted inspects children's homes against these regulations.
Do residential childcare workers need to be registered?
Residential care workers who are not social workers do not join a professional register. You still need the full Schedule 2 information, including the enhanced DBS check with children's barred list where eligible. See our barred list checks guide.
What should a children's social care reference ask?
Ask about suitability to work with children, any disciplinary or safeguarding processes, dates, role and why the person left. Our safeguarding reference questions page has more ideas.
Do fostering agencies have similar rules?
Yes. Independent fostering agencies have their own regulations on the fitness of workers, with similar expectations on identity, DBS, references and employment history. Check the current regulations that apply to your service.
Can a children's home accept a phone reference?
Schedule 2 asks for written references. If a referee will speak but not write, ask them to complete the written form, or find another referee. RefAssure gets each reference in writing and signed by the referee.
What if the most recent employer will not give a reference?
Record your attempts and the reason, ask the candidate why, and seek another written reference that covers the gap. RefAssure tells you after day 12 if a referee has not replied, so you can act early.
Does RefAssure check the Social Work England register?
No. You check the register on the Social Work England website. RefAssure handles references and employment history: consent, requests, chasing and a signed PDF audit trail.

Related guides

Reference checking for care providers Barred list checks Safeguarding reference questions Safer recruitment and KCSIE DBS checks guide

Two written references, signed and filed.

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