The Social Care Council Register for in Northern Ireland (SCCR)
Measures describe a question asked to a participant during a survey or an item of information requested from a manager when they fill out a data return. For example, ‘Who do you live with?’ is a measure and the possible responses might be, mother, father, brother, sister etc.
| Question/Data item wording | Response scale wording | Need OR provision OR receipt | Description of measure | Start Year | Age of interest | Age from | Age to | Informant | Multiple rater | Reporting term | Sweep title | Standard instrument | Notes | Physical health measures | Dataset | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Social Workers – Engagement in the Professional in Practice (PiP) Framework for |
Percentages of social workers are given for the following: |
Provision; | Social workers - engagement in PiP awards | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Workforce Age and Gender – social workers |
Ages are broken down into: |
Provision; | Workforce Age and Gender - social workers | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Workforce Age and Gender – social workers |
Ages are broken down into: |
Provision; | Workforce Age and Gender - social workers | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Size of the Register |
Figures broken down for: |
Provision; | Size of social care register | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Social care register quarterly trend Sept 2024 to Sept 2025 |
Percentage changes given over year for: |
Provision; | Social care register - quarterly trends | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Social care register yearly trend March 2021-March 2025 |
Percentage changes given over years for: |
Provision; | Social care register - yearly trends | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Numbers of social care workers broken down by category (number and percentage) |
Numbers and percentage of the register is broken down into: |
Provision; | No. social care workers broken down by category | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Employment by social care sector |
Percentage given for: This is broken down into: |
Provision; | Employment by social care sector | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Social care practitioners by employment sectors |
Percentages are given for: |
Provision; | Social care practitioners by employment sectors | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Social work by employment sectors |
Percentages are given for: |
Provision; | Social work by employment sectors | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Social Workers – Employment by Work Focus/Service Type – proportions |
This is broken down into: |
Provision; | Social workers - employment by work focus | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR | |||
Social Care Practitioners – Employment by Work Focus/Service Type – proportions |
This is broken down into: |
Provision; | Social care practitioners - employment by work focus | 2023 | 16-120 | 16 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past quarter | Quarterly register reports | No | SCCR |
Overview
Aims
Aims to provide an up‑to‑date picture of the social work and social care workforce registered in Northern Ireland. It draws on data submitted during registration and ongoing updates to the public facing register. The purpose is to show workforce demographics, employment locations, and areas of care in which registrants work, and to identify trends as people join, leave, or move within the workforce.
Institution
Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)
Geographic coverage - Nations
Northern Ireland;
Start date
2023
Minimum age at recruitment
16
Sample Size
49,391
Sample
Study design
Administrative dataset
Sample details
The dataset covers all individuals registered to work in social work and social care roles in Northern Ireland. This includes social care practitioners, social workers, and students enrolled in recognised social work degree programmes. As registration is mandatory for these roles, the sample represents the entire regulated workforce.
Sex
All
Sample Characteristics
Regulated social care workforce in Northern Ireland
Sample size at most recent sweep
49,391 registrants at 30 Sept 2025
Data
Individual data available (e.g. upon special request)?
No
Data Access Level
Full open source
Data Access
https://niscc.info/data-about-the-social-work-and-social-care-workforce/
https://niscc.info/data-about-the-social-work-and-social-care-workforce/
Regional variable present?
No
Local Authority variable present?
No
Complementary Data
Genetic Data Collected
https://niscc.info/data-about-the-social-work-and-social-care-workforce/
Linked Data
HDR UK Innovation Gateway
Additional information
Website
https://niscc.info/data-about-the-social-work-and-social-care-workforce/
Notes
Related Measures
Study Code
SCCR
Reference paper(s)
Northern Ireland Social Care Council (2025) Economic and social value of the UK adult social care sector: Northern Ireland. Belfast: NISCC. Available at: https://niscc.info/app/uploads/2025/02/Final-report-Northern-Ireland.pdf (Accessed: 10 February 2026).
https://niscc.info/app/uploads/2025/02/Final-report-Northern-Ireland.pdf
Funders
Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)