§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking to recruit additional(a) psychiatric and (b) approved social workers in the north-east. [15024]
§ Jacqui SmithOn 19 October 2001, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced a £1.5 million recruitment campaign, which is designed to increase the number of people interested in careers in social work and social care work. As well as this action to tackle recruitment problems, the Department is also working with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Social Services to help employers implement policies to improve recruitment and retention of staff.