Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report Summary 2024/25

Iriss received funding from the Scottish Government’s Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser (OCSWA) to conduct an analysis and produce a summary of the Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO) Annual Reports for the period 2024-2025. As at April 2026, OCSWA transitioned to the National Social Work Agency (NSWA).

The CSWO annual reports are part of a national process intended to support local accountability and a national overview of key themes, issues, and learning. They offer an overview of the delivery of social services in their area, including their key and current activities, developments and challenges. The reports also cover broader themes around governance and accountability, service quality and performance, resources, workforce development, and future priorities.

This synthesis report offers a high-level overview of the delivery of social services across the 32 local authorities based on the main themes and areas covered by all 32 Chief Social Work Officer Annual Reports. It is intended to provide a national overview of the social work landscape in Scotland. It does so by identifying cross-cutting themes across individual reports, including key challenges and emerging issues, to provide a snapshot of the sector.