The General Social Care Council for England
The social care workforce regulator for England, registering social care workers and regulating their conduct and training.

The Scottish Social Services Council
Responsible for registering people who work in Scotland, and regulating their education and training.

The Criminal Records Bureau
Provides organisations with information on those who may not be suitable for working with children and vulnerable adults.

The British Association of Social Workers
The professional organisation for social workers in the UK. They also have a forum specificially representing independant workers.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence
SCIE's aim is to improve the experience of people who use social care by developing and promoting knowledge about good practice in the sector.