HC Deb 01 November 1994 vol 248 cc1087-8W
Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral answer of 25 October,Official Report, column 749, how many (a) qualified field social workers, (b) unqualified field social workers, (c) qualified residential social workers and (d) unqualified residential social workers there were in 1974; and what are the latest available figures.

Mr. Bowis

There have been changes of definition and coverage in the information on qualifications of social work staff since 1974, and although the Department collected data on qualifications of social work staff in 1974, it no longer does so. It is for that reason that I quoted percentage figures rather than numbers.

In the 1974 Department of Health staffing return on local authority social services staff, 5,150 field social work staff out of a total of 13,154 or 38 per cent. were reported as having the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work. In 1992, the latest date for which the information is available, the local government management board social services work force analysis showed that, out of a total of 32,826 staff, 26,906, or 82 per cent., had CQSW and a further 3,415, or 10 per cent., had another relevant qualification such as certificate in social service or diploma in social work.

Corresponding comparative figures for staff in residential establishments are not available.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchcliffe), of 25 October,Official Report, column 749, what information is being requested from local authorities about the placement of children in small unregistered children's homes; and from which date this information is to be requested.

Mr. Bowis

In the current year, figures are being collected about those small unregistered children's homes in which children looked after by a local authority were accommodated in the period 1 April to 30 September 1994. The information collected includes the home's facilities and the age, gender and maximum number of children who can be accommodated. As my reply to the hon. Member for Wakefield said, from now on—that is, from the next annual collection—the number of children placed will also be separately identifiable.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) of 25 October, Official Report, column 749, whether statutory inspections in future will apply to small unregistered children's homes.

Mr. Bowis

Section 80 of the Children Act 1989 allows the social services inspectorate to inspect facilities for children in a wide variety of settings, including small children's homes, if circumstances show that it is necessary.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral answer of 25 October, Official Report, column 748, what are the welfare responsibilities of those authorities in whose areas small unregistered children's homes are located with regard to those homes; and under which section of the Children Act 1989 those welfare regulations are laid down.

Mr. Bowis

The local authority which places the child carries full responsibility to satisfy itself that the proposed placement promotes and safeguards the child's welfare— Arrangements for Placements of Children (General) Regulations 1991.

If a particular placing authority finds a small children's home unsatisfactory, its recourse would be to terminate that placement and not use the home again.

Authorities placing children in homes in a different area must inform the area authority about the placement—Arrangements for Placements of Children (General) Regulations 1992. Where a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives in its area is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, it shall make inquiries to determine whether to take action to safeguard or promote the child's welfare—section 47, Children Act 1989.

Where an arrangement has been made with the placing authority, the area authority can carry out the functions in relation to a placement on behalf of the placing authority— Arrangements for Placements of Children (General) Regulations 1991.