Just a small fraction of qualified social workers enrol in post-qualification training according to the The General Social Care Council (GSCC).

A survey conducted by the GSCC has found that only 8% of social workers had enrolled on post-qualification training courses over the past three years. The organisation, which regulates training for social work jobs, believes that about 6,000 of the nation's 80,000 practising social workers had registered for PQ training.

These low numbers fly in the face of the new framework for social work established in 2006; a requirement in the code of practice published that year stipulates that social workers and others in social care jobs should undertake training to improve their knowledge and skills. The code of practice indicates that this is a mandatory obligation; it also advocates that employers should train and develop their staff but unlike employees, this isn't mandatory.

However, the GSCC said that it was likely that heavy workloads, a lack of ring-fenced finances and changes to social work structures were the main barriers to social workers pursuing further training. In their annual report on social work education for 2008-9, the GSCC said "The availability and take-up of courses across the country needs continued monitoring to ensure supply matches demand."

The report also found that whilst most students of social work were able to find placements during their years of study, difficulties in sourcing statutory placements were identified in mental health services, adult's services and children's services. Professional development is one of the 15 strands of the Social Work Reform Programme for England and Wales, informed by the report of the Social Work Task Force in 2009.