Social work caseloads

Request the number of cases per social worker and current vacancies.

Social workers in Scotland handle child protection, adult support, and other critical services. High caseloads and staff shortages directly affect the quality of support vulnerable people receive.

Dear [AUTHORITY NAME], Please provide the following information as at [DATE e.g. 31 March 2025], broken down by team (children and families, adults, criminal justice): 1. The number of qualified social workers employed, as full-time equivalent. 2. The number of social worker vacancies. 3. The total number of open cases. 4. The average caseload per social worker. I would prefer to receive this by email. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
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Who to send it to#

Your local council’s social work department. Find your council on the Commissioner’s directory of Scottish public authorities. You can also send your request through WhatDoTheyKnow, which publishes responses online.

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Tips#

  • Ask for a snapshot at a specific date rather than an average over a period. This is easier for the council to answer.
  • Full-time equivalent (FTE) is more useful than headcount, as many social workers work part-time.
  • If the council says caseload figures are not held centrally, ask for the number of open cases and staff numbers separately. You can calculate the ratio yourself.