HC Deb 09 February 1989 vol 146 cc793-5W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many qualified social workers with specialist training for work with people who are deaf are currently employed in Northern Ireland by(a) health and social services boards, (b) voluntary organisations and (c) other bodies; how many have completed training in each of the last five years; what action he is taking to increase their number; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 8 February 1989]: The numbers of qualified social workers with training for work with deaf people currently employed in health and social services boards are shown in the table:

Number
Eastern 12
Southern 3
Western 1
Northern 4

Information is not held centrally on the numbers employed in voluntary organisations and other bodies.

In each of the years 1984 and 1985, one member of staff completed a post qualifying course. No post qualifying training has been available since the closure of the course at Moray house, Edinburgh, in 1985, but the Department of Health will be providing financial assistance for the development of a course at the Open university, which is expected to start in 1991. Considerable interest is already being 'expressed in Northern Ireland in an Open university course.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many interpreters for the deaf are employed by public bodies in Northern Ireland; how many have been trained in each of the last five years; what action he is taking to increase their number; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 8 February 1989]: There are no interpreters for the deaf employed on a full-time basis by public bodies in Northern Ireland. There are, however, four qualified interpreters who provide a service to the deaf in addition to their normal employment or duties. Two other people (not employed by public bodies) have passed stage III examinations in communication skills set by the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People, and it is expected they will go on to undertake specialist interpreters training. A local branch of the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People was set up in Northern Ireland in 1987 with the help of a £35,000 seeding grant from the Department of Health and Social Services. It is working in partnership with health and social services boards to improve the communication skills of staff and there are now over 20 classes providing courses for a range of interests including social workers, nurses, day centre staff, other professionals and interested members of the public. British sign language courses have increased in number, and the first lip reading course was held last September.