National Social Work Agency
The National Social Work Agency (NSWA) will launch in April 2026.
The NSWA will:
- support the work of the National Chief Social Work Adviser (NCSWA)
- support the NCSWA to provide national leadership
- advise Scottish Ministers on social work matters
- contribute to national policy that impacts social work practice
- raise the profile of social work as a profession
- champion the profession for all social workers and social work students
- take a national approach to monitoring workforce numbers
- support and drive improvement across the social work sector
The Scottish Social Work Partnership
The NSWA is working with their partners, Social Work Scotland and COSLA, to develop the Scottish Social Work Partnership. They will work together to ensure a skilled, supported and sustainable social work workforce in Scotland.
Our organisation
Joanna Macdonald
National Chief Social Work Adviser and Chief Executive of the NSWA
Joanna Macdonald has been appointed as the new National Chief Social Work Adviser (NCSWA). Joanna will begin this role in December 2025.
In this advisory role of NCSWA, Joanna will also serve as Chief Executive of the NSWA.