New ‘Sutton Model’ Can Help Fix England’s Social Work Crisis

Bobby Dean MP hosted the launch of a new national report from the University of Durham. The report shows how Sutton Council’s new social worker pilot scheme could help solve the growing shortage of social workers across England.

The Sutton Model was created with the group UK Welcomes Refugees. It helped social workers who trained overseas and are already living in the UK to move into social work jobs here. The pilot ran from November 2024 to February 2025 and focused mainly on people from the Hong Kong community. Many of them came to the UK through the British National (Overseas) visa route.

The programme gave people hands‑on experience, training, and support to learn about UK social work rules and standards. Because of this, many participants said they felt much more confident and ready to register with Social Work England.

Carshalton & Wallington MP Bobby Dean, who helped start the project, welcomed the report’s findings. He said:
“We have a fantastic community of Hong Kongers in the UK who are eager to contribute and a clear need for more social workers. This practical approach shows the best of collaborative working. I hope this model is scaled up across the country.”

Michael Radley, Principal Social Worker at Sutton Council, said:
“This programme is about more than filling vacancies – it’s about building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve.”

Debbie Brough, Head of Safeguarding & Principal Social Worker (Adults), added:
“Our partnership with Kingston University and UK Welcomes Refugees demonstrates what’s possible when we collaborate across sectors.”

People who took part in the programme said it was a major moment in their careers.

“This programme restored my confidence,” said a former medical social worker from Hong Kong. A former intern with children’s services said learning about UK safeguarding “expanded my knowledge and helped me understand cultural differences in practice.”

Because the pilot has now been recognised across the country, Sutton is asking for the model to be used more widely. This could help make England’s social work workforce stronger and support other jobs that are also facing major staff shortages.