§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many trained and how many untrained social workers are now employed by each of the principal local authorities in their children's welfare and health departments; what action he is taking to establish a fully trained social work service by the new social service departments of local authorities; and whether he will make a statement;
(2) what action he is taking to review the use by local authorities of untrained residential staff and untrained foster parents to care for disturbed and deprived children; and whether he will make a statement;
(3) what action he is taking to increase the number of trained social workers to enable him fully to implement the Children and Young Persons Act, 1969.
§ Sir K. JosephI will send the hon. Member shortly detailed information, showing the position in each local authority on the latest dates for which figures are available, and will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.
I am satisfied that local authorities in England are already aware of the desirability of recruiting trained staff for social work both in the community and in residential establishments; of seconding serving officers for training where this can be arranged; of seeking foster parents with appropriate training or experience when they board out disturbed or severely deprived children; and of providing, for 73W foster parents generally, preparation for their difficult task and opportunities to learn more about their foster children's needs.
The bodies responsible for promoting social work training have achieved a rapid expansion of training opportunities in recent years. I would refer the hon. Member, for example, to the answer my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department gave him on 3rd December, 1970.
I have no doubt that this expansion will be continued under the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work which is to be set up later this year to take over this responsibility.—[Vol. 808, c. 1438.]
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Social Services (1) what additional financial assistance he is providing to local authorities to enable them fully to implement the Children and Young Persons Act, 1969;
(2) what additional assistance he is now providing to local authorities to enable them fully to implement the Children and Young Persons Act, 1969.
§ Sir K. JosephMy Department will continue to take such steps as are necessary to assist local authorities in implementing the Act in accordance with the Government's stated policy, and to make available professional guidance and advice. As regards finance, the Rate Support Grant (Increase) Order, 1970, made a provision for additional expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales resulting from the Act of £0.9 million in 1970–71.
The Rate Support Grant Order, 1970, provided for additional expenditure expected to arise from the Act in 1971–72 and 1972–73. It included £1.8 million in 1971–72 and £2.4 million in 1972–73 for additional social work staff over and above the normal expansion of the service, together with related administrative costs, and a further £1.5 million, in 1972–73, for changes arising from the integration of approved schools into the community home system.