§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department has taken to ensure that staff working in special hospitals understand their role within the complaints system; [62118]
(2) what action his Department is taking to improve the methods for selecting and training staff who work with newly admitted patients in special hospitals. [62117]
§ Mr. HuttonIt is for each high security (special) hospital to determine the methods to be employed in selecting staff to work in the hospital, and to ensure that they receive any necessary advice, training and education to enable them to perform the full range of their duties.
A seminar is being held in each region in England and in Wales, looking at training, work force planning and education issues relating to people working with mentally disordered offenders (MDOs). This programme covers the whole range of agencies and disciplines who have an involvement with MDOs, whether in secure settings or in the community. It aims to identify the core and specialist skills required to work successfully with MDOs and to develop efficient and effective training, work force planning and education strategies within each region.