About Us
Built by Social Work Professionals, for Social Work Professionals
Social Work Select was founded by practitioners who understood the gap between what social workers needed from a recruitment partner and what the market was offering. We exist to close that gap.
Our Story
Social Work Select was established in response to a simple observation: social workers were being let down by generalist recruiters who didn't understand the sector, and local authorities were struggling to find compliant, experienced practitioners quickly enough to protect the people they serve.
Our founders brought together decades of combined experience across children's services, adult social care, and workforce development. We built Social Work Select on the principle that specialist recruitment requires specialist knowledge — not just a database and a phone.
Today we work with local authorities, NHS trusts, and independent care providers across England and Wales, placing Social Work England registered practitioners into roles where they can make a genuine difference.
What We Stand For
Sector Expertise
We recruit exclusively in social work. Every consultant on our team has direct experience of the sector — we speak the language, understand the pressures, and know what good practice looks like.
Rigorous Compliance
We never cut corners on compliance. Every practitioner we place is Social Work England registered, DBS checked, reference verified, and right-to-work confirmed before they set foot in any organisation.
Long-Term Relationships
We measure success by the quality and longevity of our placements, not the volume of CVs we send. Our consultants build genuine relationships with both practitioners and employers.
Practitioner Wellbeing
We take the welfare of the social workers we represent seriously. That means fair pay, honest conversations about workload, and support throughout every placement.
Our Leadership Team
Sarah Mitchell
Founder & Managing Director
Sarah spent 12 years as a qualified social worker in children's services before moving into workforce development. She founded Social Work Select to create the agency she wished had existed during her practice years.
James Okafor
Head of Compliance & Operations
James brings 8 years of experience in social care compliance and workforce regulation. He oversees all DBS processing, Social Work England verification, and right-to-work checks across the business.
Rachel Thornton
Senior Recruitment Consultant — Children's Services
Rachel has 6 years of specialist recruitment experience in children's services and safeguarding. She holds a Level 5 qualification in Recruitment Practice and is a member of the REC.
David Mensah
Senior Recruitment Consultant — Adult Social Care
David specialises in adult social care, mental health, and learning disabilities placements. He previously worked as a support worker and brings genuine frontline understanding to his consultancy work.
Compliance & Accreditations
Compliance is not a box-ticking exercise for us — it is the foundation of every placement we make. Here is what we verify for every practitioner before any placement begins.
Social Work England Registration
We verify active registration with Social Work England for every practitioner. We check registration status at the point of placement and monitor it throughout.
Enhanced DBS Disclosure
All practitioners hold a current Enhanced DBS certificate. We process new DBS applications where required and maintain records of certificate dates and renewal schedules.
Right to Work Verification
We conduct full right-to-work checks in line with Home Office guidance, including document verification and, where applicable, online status checks.
Professional References
We obtain a minimum of two professional references for every practitioner, including at least one from a direct line manager in a social work setting.
Qualifications Verification
We verify social work qualifications — degree, CQSW, DipSW, or equivalent — directly with awarding institutions where required.
Mandatory Training Records
We check that practitioners hold current mandatory training certificates including safeguarding, information governance, and manual handling where applicable.
Accreditations & Memberships
Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC)
Full member of the REC, committed to the Code of Professional Practice.
Social Work England Approved Agency
Recognised by Social Work England as a compliant placement agency.
ICO Registered
Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office for lawful data processing.
Work With Us
Whether you're a social worker looking for your next contract or an employer seeking compliant, experienced practitioners, we'd like to hear from you.