§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what policies he is introducing to make existing social workers realise that their work is valued. [83325]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Government and the Department of Health are committed to the enhancement of the professional status of those involved in social care work.
The national social care recruitment campaign, launched in October 2001, has just entered its second year. It is aimed at informing the public about social work and social care, as well as encouraging recruitment and retention. The campaign includes both national and local press and radio advertising and particular efforts are being made in some areas such as London and the South East that have more severe problems with recruitment and retention of social workers.
This commitment was further proven by the introduction of the Care Standards Act 2000, this brought into being, among other regulatory bodies, the General Social Care Council (GSCC). The GSCC is responsible for improving standards across the sector and registering qualified and competent social workers and social care staff. As part of this process, the GSCC published codes of practice for social care workers and employers on 23 September 2002.
The training strategy implementation fund—£15 million in the current year— is available to all employers in social care to support 26,500 staff to participate in skill development programmes. The focus of half of this funding will be to strengthen the National Vocational Qualification infrastructure within the workplace. With this investment, employers will be able to further train their staff and managers and establish a culture of lifelong learning and continuous professional development within social care.
144WIntroduction of the new three year degree and bursaries will be a unique opportunity to transform the status, image and position of social workers— making social work what it should be, a graduate profession in its own right— and build on the best of social work education and training.