Common themes
The most common themes for referrals closed were:
- inappropriate behaviour at work (44%)
- practice failings (28.5%)
- behaviour outside of work (14%)
- dishonesty (10%).
We also investigated smaller numbers of referrals about management failings, regulatory issues and health issues.
Resources to help you
Our range of resources and learning may help both registrants and employers to consider some of these common themes.
The Making Better Decisions simulator presents situations you may come across in your role and provides guidance on sometimes difficult decisions you need to make. You can choose the pathway most relevant to you:
- manager
- supervisor
- social work
- adult care
- childcare.
The SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers set out the standards of practice and behaviour and you can use them in team meetings, supervision and other practice settings to help guide your work.
Our Codes of Practice toolkit for managers and employers pulls together useful resources you can use with staff and people using your service.
The Learning Zone offers lots of free learning resources and guidance on a wide range of practice topics.
Development sessions
We also offer tailored development sessions for frontline staff to support understanding of what it means to be fit to practise and how the Codes of Practice apply in day-to-day work.
We can shape sessions to focus on specific themes or areas of practice most relevant to your service, helping staff reflect on practice and build confidence in meeting expected standards. To request a session, please email sectorteam@sssc.uk.com.
Wider prevention work
Over the next three years we will use our fitness to practise data to develop prevention activity and inform evidence-based learning and development resources for the sector. You can find out more in the SSSC Strategic Plan 2026-2029.
