§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to local authorities with regard to the allocations of complex child abuse cases to newly qualified social workers.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleySocial service departments should ensure that staff undertaking this work are trained, competent and supervised. The Department has reissued "Working Together", a guide to arrangements for inter-agency co-operation for the protection of children, to coincide with the implementation of the Children Act 1989 on 14 October 1991. The training guidelines "Working with child sexual abuse" circulated on 6 January give a framework for training in this area. Copies of the publications are available in the Library.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has received from the social services inspectorate with regard to the possible introduction of approved or accredited social workers for child protection cases; what response he has made to these proposals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNone.