The Northern Ireland Social Care Workforce Strategy 2025-2035 is the first dedicated strategy to support and develop over 41,000 registered social care practitioners who provide direct care and support across a range of settings and are distinct from professionally qualified groups such as social workers and nurses. 

The Strategy sets out a ten-year approach to improving recruitment, retention, workforce development, wellbeing and workforce planning. Its aim is to create a sustainable, skilled and valued workforce capable of meeting growing and increasingly complex care needs.