§ Mr. Astorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes are to be made in the organisation of the Central Training Councils for Social Work.
§ Sir K. JosephThe Government accept the view of the Seebohm Committee that the present system of separate central training councils for social work in different services has become outmoded and that these should be replaced by a single body. Following consultations with the interests concerned, they have accordingly decided to set up a single independent and statutory central training council for the United Kingdom to be known as the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. The Central Council will replace the two existing national councils for training in social work (the Council for Training in Social Work and the Central Training Council in Child Care) and will undertake also the training functions at present carried out by the Recruitment and Training Committee of the Advisory Council for Probation and After-Care. It is proposed that this will be effected by the submission for Her Majesty's approval of an Order in Council under the Health Visiting and Social Work (Training) Act, 1962, and by bringing Section 11 of the Local Authority Social Services Act, 1970, into force.
The new Council will cover training in social work for the local authority health and welfare and children's services, the hospital service, the probation and aftercare service and for similar services, provided by voluntary organisations. Within this broad field, the Council will promote 504W training, and, subject to the approval of its rules by the Privy Council, recognise courses leading to social work qualifications, though it will not make grants for the provision of courses or support for students.
The Central Council will consist of a Chairman appointed by Ministers and 51 other members, seven of whom will be appointed by Ministers, one by the Governor of Northern Ireland and the remaining 43 by the following:
Association of Municipal Corporations 3 County Councils Association 3 Scottish local authority associations 2 Central Council of Probation and After Care Committees 1 Inner London Education Authority 1 Regional Hospital Boards 1 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals 2 Council for National Academic Awards 1 Committee of Directors of Polytechnics 1 Association of Principals in Technical Institutions jointly with Association of Colleges for Further and Higher Education 1 Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions 1 Joint University Council for Social and Public Administration 1 Association of Social Work Teachers 2 Local Government Training Board 1 National Institute for Social Work Training 1 British Association of Social Workers 8 The Directors of Social Services in England and Wales 2 Association of Directors of Social Work (in Scotland) 1 Conference of Principal Probation Officers 1 National Association of Probation Officers 2 Residential Child Care Association 1 British Medical Association 1 Society of Medical Officers of Health I Joint Committee of the Royal Colleges, the Royal Scottish Corporations and the Central Consultants and Specialists Committee (known as the Joint Consultants Committee) 1 The proposed advisory council for the personal social services in England and Wales 1 Advisory Council for Probation and After-Care 1 Advisory Council on Social Work (in Scotland) 1 Ministers will appoint seven members after inviting nominations from a number of voluntary, education and training and social worker organisations not separately represented on the Council.
The Central Council will have a Scottish Advisory Committee and a Northern Ireland Advisory Committee to advise it on its functions in those parts of the 505W United Kingdom; at least three members of the Council will be ordinarily resident in Wales.
The Government aim to bring the new Council into existence to take over the work of the existing training bodies in the spring of next year. Organisations are now being invited to send in their nominations for membership.