§ Lord Northbourneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the number of persons achieving NVQs in Social Care in the last period for which figures are available; and whether they propose to take any action to attract a larger number of suitably qualified applicants in future. [HL4386]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe last period for which data are available on National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) is for the quarter 1 July 1999 to 30 September 1999. For this period, a total of 106,288 NVQ Certificates were awarded for the Care, Caring for Children and Young People, and Promoting Independence NVQs. These figures are for certificates issued throughout the United Kingdom.
In the White Paper Modernising Social Services, it was acknowledged that 80 per cent. of the social care workforce had no recognised qualifications and this was a serious problem that had to be tackled.
The National Training Strategy for the Social Care Workforce, published by the National Training Organisation for Social Care as a consultation document in July 2000, gives details of the relevant qualifications for each section of the social care workforce. The Government are working with social care employers to implement the training strategy and increase levels of qualification.
Funds have been provided through the Training Support Programme for particular groups of social care staff to undertake NVQs. These include staff working in residential child care, foster carers, domiciliary care workers and heads of adult residential homes.
The National Care Standards Commission is being established in April 2002 to regulate statutory and independent sector care services in accordance with new national minimum standards. These minimum standards will include standards of training that both the registered manager and the staff of the establishments should attain, and these will be linked to NVQs.