Body cameras for social workers ruled out

Concerns raised by staff about privacy and trust

The Department of Health and Social Care has ruled out the use of body-worn cameras for social workers.

Minister Claire Christian says there is no regulatory guidance in place, and staff have raised concerns around privacy, data protection, and the potential impact on building trust with patients.

She adds that while staff safety remains important, evidence from small-scale trials has been mixed, making it difficult to justify the collection of such data.

MLC Kirstie Morphet - a former social worker - believes the move would be unnecessary: