§ Lord Northbourneasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of the staff currently employed in local authority children's homes for residential care have a relevant professional qualification in residential social work; and whether they consider that proportion to be satisfactory. [HL67]
13WA
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathFrom the Social Services 'Workforce Analysis that was completed in September 2001, we know that 62 per cent of the registered managers of local council children's homes held either a diploma in social work (DipSW) or the certificate of qualification in social work (CQSW), and 3 per cent of the registered managers hold a Level 4 Care national vocational qualification (NVQ). We also know that 28 per cent of registered managers hold a managerial qualification, but the data do not state what percentage of registered managers hold both a care and a management qualification.
From the data supplied with the training support programme grant application forms in April 2002, we also know that 21 per cent of the care staff within local council children's homes have already acquired the Caring for Children and Young People Level 3 NVQ and it is anticipated that this figure will rise to 44 per cent by March 2003.
The Government have set national minimum standards that the National Care Standards Commission is using to register and inspect children's homes which state that registered managers should hold a DipSW, CQSW or Care Level 4 NVQ and an NVQ Level 4 in management by January 2005. They also state that a minimum ratio of 80 per cent of all care staff should have completed their Level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People NVQ by January 2005.