§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the main recommendations of the Warner report on the selection, development and management of staff in children's homes and on the main provisions of the code of practice issued by his Department following publication of the Warner report; [37700]
(2) what specific structures and systems have been established by his Department to monitor compliance on the part of local authorities with the provisions of the code of practice arising from the publication of the Warner report on the selection, development and management of staff in children's homes; and if he will make a statement on the extent to which each local authority is (a) currently and (b) in the future planning to comply with the provisions of the code; [37701]
(3) what specific action (a) has been taken and (b) is planned in order to encourage greater compliance on the part of local authorities with the provisions of the code of practice arising from the publication of the Warner report on the selection, development and management of staff in children's homes; [37703]
(4) what assessment his Department has made of the costs to local authorities associated with compliance with the provisions of the code of practice arising from the publication of the Warner report on the selection, development and management of staff in children's homes; [37704]
(5) to what extent local authorities will be reimbursed in future for the increased costs associated with compliance with the provisions of the code of practice arising from the publication of the Warner report on the selection, development and management of staff in children's homes; [37705]
(6) if he will make a statement setting out the steps which he is taking to encourage compliance with the terms of the code of practice arising from the publication of the Warner report on the selection, development and management of staff in children's homes with particular reference to the advance vetting of those seeking access to children; and if he will indicate those agencies, charities or commercial organisations of which the Department holds details and which are able to provide advice to local authorities on such vetting procedures. [37699]
§ Mr. BowisProgress on the implementation of recommendations in the Warner report by local authorities was reported in Children Act reports in 1992, 1993 and 1994, copies of which are available in the Library.
The code of practice for the employment of residential child care workers, which I endorse, was produced by the independent support force for children's residential care. It is a reference document intended for the use of local authorities and other providers of child care services. It does not impose on local authorities any new burdens or costs. Local authorities are expected to continue to be particularly rigorous in their policies, procedures and practice for the recruitment, selection and retention of staff involved in child care services. This is routinely examined by inspectors of these services.
423WThe code of practice and existing guidance from the Department of Health provide advice to local authorities on vetting procedures: how they implement the advice is their responsibility.