§ The Earl of Listowelasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is a nationally recognised preparatory training and qualification for those working in residential care of the young and elderly; and, if not, why not. [HL4379]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)Professional social workers train for the Diploma in Social Work. National Vocational Qualifications at various levels are available for other social care staff. The Training Organisation for the Personal Social Services has now delivered to Government a national training strategy for social care and proposes to issue it for consultation. This training strategy includes proposals for foundation level training for all social care staff and contains supplementary reports on residential care and child care. The Government are considering their response to the strategy.