§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has had any discussions with regional and islands authorities and directors of social work with a view to improving the training and supervision of social workers dealing with mentally disordered workers.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythAll regional and Islands councils are involved in the provision of training programmes, approved by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, for social workers who are approved as mental health officers under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984. Officials of the social work services group of the Scottish Education Department regularly meet representatives of directors of social work to discuss matters relating to social work training.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans for the Scottish Office to make a direct contribution to the improvement of the training of social workers dealing with mentally disordered people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe need to strengthen post-qualifying training for social workers was among the considerations which led my right hon. and learned Friend to increase by 13 per cent. provision for local authority current expenditure on social work in 1989–90. In addition the Scottish Office is providing a grant of up to £200,000 over three years to St. Andrews university to establish a shared training project for nursing and social work staff working with mentally handicapped people in the Grampian and Highland regions.