§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department will introduce legislation to provide a career structure for home helps, meals-on-wheels workers, home nurses, and bathing assistants, so that their skills, pay structure and job prospects are better appreciated by the community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephI do not think this is a matter for legislation. It is for local authorities, advised and supported as necessary by my Department, to provide and organise these essential services in the way which will best meet the needs of the community. A review of the home help service was carried out last year by my Department following the integration of home helps into social services departments, and I hope to send the results of this shortly to all local social services authorities. Following the report in October 1969 of a working party on the local authority nursing service, local health authorities have been introducing a revised nurse management structure which makes the best use of nursing skills and provides improved career prospects for nursing staff. A new pay structure for management grades was introduced in March 1972.