There's been a slight increase in the number of formal complaints against registered social workers.

The increase has been revealed on the Social Workers Registration Board annual report.

It shows there were 36 complaints lodged in 2014, two more than the number recorded in 2013 and three times as many as were recorded in 2011.

According to the report there were also 17 complaints made against un-registered social workers - however the Registration Board was unable to act on them.