§ Mr., Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of his response to the proposals of the Central Council for the Education and Training of Social Workers, he will set out his Department's plans for the training of staff involved with community care services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe training requirements of staff working in community care are provided by a variety of bodies including local authority social services departments, health authorities, the National Health Service Training Authority and the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. Our recent £10 million training support programme initiative for staff working with the elderly has provided a significant training boost for certain groups of staff working in the area of community care, and we are currently seeking powers, through the Health and Medicines Bill, to allow for possible expansion of the programme to take in additional staff groups. We shall consider whether further training initiatives are required when we have brought forward our proposals on community care in the light of Sir Roy Griffiths's report.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the current arrangements for the joint planning of community care services between health authorities and(a) local authority social service departments and (b) the voluntary organisations.
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§ Mr. NewtonThe present systems for joint planning offer health authorities, local authorities, the voluntary sector and family practitioner committees valuable opportunities to develop and co-ordinate community care services. We will consider whether any changes are necessary as part of our current examination of funding mechanisms for community care, following Sir Roy Griffiths' recent report.