The LGA has called for financial support for social work students in England to be brought in line with nursing, teaching and allied health professions, warning that the current system risks undermining the future workforce.
New survey findings highlight growing pressures across the sector, with 52 per cent of adult social workers reporting increasingly complex caseloads, while resources and capacity are failing to keep pace with demand.
Councils are facing high vacancy rates, retention challenges and shortages of placement opportunities, affecting the pipeline of new recruits.
In a submission to a government consultation on reforms to the Social Work Bursary and Education Support Grant, the LGA stressed that both schemes are essential and must be strengthened rather than reduced.
To maintain a supply of social workers, there is a need to support undergraduate and postgraduate training routes, and for targeted financial support to widen access for students from low-income backgrounds, disabled people, and those with caring responsibilities.
An LGA spokesperson said: “We must protect overall investment in our future social workers to secure a stable pipeline of talent for the sector.
“Councils and higher education providers need stable, predictable funding that enables effective planning and supports students to choose social work and stay in the profession, so we can continue delivering vital services for local people.
“Social workers deliver an essential public service in every community. The financial backing for this workforce should recognise that contribution and align social work support models with equivalent public service professions.”