§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce training requirements for those establishing themselves as carers of residential placements.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyTraining is available from a variety of sources. We have asked local authorities, in using the training support grant for the elderly, to have regard to the training needs of independent agencies. As part of the follow-up by the Department to the Wagner report on residential care, the National Institute for Social Work has been commissioned to undertake a programme to promote the training of staff in homes of all types.
The Registered Homes Act 1984 requires people running residential care homes to be fit persons and the Residential Care Homes Regulations 1984 require home owners to employ suitably qualified and competent staff. Guidance on the qualifications and experience the person running the home should normally have is contained in "Home Life", a code of practice for residential care.
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§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what legal sanctions are enforced if cases of malpractice among residential carers are found; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyLocal authorities have powers under the Registered Homes Act 1984 to cancel an existing registration where the person registered or any other person concerned with the running of a residential care home is found to be unfit to do so. They may also cancel a registration where the person registered fails to provide adequate services or facilities in the home or otherwise fails to comply with the provisions of the Act or regulations made under it. Where a criminal offence is alleged to have been committed, action is a matter for the police.