Social Workers (Hansard, 24 February 2003)

§ Tim Loughton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on the training of unqualified staff as social workers from in-house local authority social services departments. [96076]

§ Jacqui Smith
I have not issued any guidance regarding the training of unqualified staff as social workers. However, at the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) conference in October 2000 my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced funding for a three-year student support scheme for those studying for first level professional social work qualifications.
The funds for this scheme were put into a ring-fenced sub-programme of the Training Support Programme Grant and they have been used to enable employers to develop their experienced care staff by putting them forward for training in the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW). This year the funds can also be used to support staff who commence the new three year degree in social work in September 2003. The funds available in this TSP sub-programme are as follows:

2001–02 £3 million

2002–03 £13 million

2003–04 £13 million

In 2003–04, £6 million will be allocated to ensure that each local council area has a Trainee Social Worker scheme. Some councils already have schemes to 'grow their own' social workers through trainee social worker schemes. The programme we are proposing will ensure that a scheme will be operating in all areas.

Mr. Gareth Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of applications to be social workers in(a) London and (b) the UK. [97585]

§ Jacqui Smith
To make social work a more attractive career choice, a new degree level qualification in social work is being introduced from September 2003. It will make newly qualified staff more confident, competent and better equipped for the realities of social work practice. Also, for September, a non-means tested bursary is being introduced to encourage more students to enter social work training. It will be payable to new and existing students, who ordinarily reside in England and who are not funded by their employer.
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Both developments are supported throughout, by the national social work recruitment campaign, launched in October 2001, backed by funding of £1.5 million. Applications for social work courses have risen for the first time in seven years, by 8.3 per cent, on the numbers for 2001.

§ Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies he estimates there are for social workers in(a) the Portsmouth area and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [98344]

§ Jacqui Smith
We do not hold central information on social worker vacancies in each local authority area. A survey undertaken by the Employers Organisation found that, across all local authority social services in England as at 30 September 2001, around 10 per cent, of all field social worker posts were vacant. Regional variations show that, as of 30 September 2001, the south west has vacancy rates of 8.5 per cent.

§ Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of social worker applications in(a) the Portsmouth area and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [98345]

§ Jacqui Smith
To make social work a more attractive career choice a new degree level qualification in social work, is being introduced from Sept 2003. It will make newly qualified staff more confident, competent and better equipped for the realities of social work practice. Also, for September, a non-means tested bursary is being introduced to encourage more students to enter social work training. It will be payable to new and existing students, ordinarily resident in England, who are not funded by their employer.
Both developments are supported throughout, by the national social work recruitment campaign, launched in October 2001, backed by funding of £l.5 million. Applications for social work courses have risen for the first time in seven years, by 8.3 per cent, on the numbers for 2001. The action taken by the Department of Health is to increase the number of social worker applications in England. It is for local employers to take other specific action locally.

2001–02	£3 million
2002–03	£13 million
2003–04	£13 million