§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to develop national occupational standards in mental health; and if he will make a statement. [24993]
§ Jacqui SmithThrough the health care national training organisation, Healthwork UK, in conjunction with the training organisation for social services we are developing national occupational standards across all ages in mental health on a United Kingdom wide basis. A functional map of the standards was produced in the workforce action team report published in August 2001 and the work to fully develop the standards is being taken forward with a view to completing the task by March 2003.
By describing best practice, the aim of the work is to improve the competence of the workforce to provide better services to individuals with mental health needs and their carers.