HL Deb 17 July 2003 vol 651 cc177-8WA
Lord Danner of Braunstone

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many staff are supporting adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities in residential care in the United Kingdom; and [HL3749]

How many staff are supporting adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities in day services in the United Kingdom. [H L3750]

Lord Warner

Data on the numbers of staff in the independent sector supporting adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities are not available centrally.

As at 30 September 2002 (the latest date for which data are available), the whole-time equivalent number of staff employed by councils with social services responsibilities in England supporting adults with learning disabilities was (i) 10,600 in residential care and (ii) 13,200 in day care.

Data on the numbers of staff supporting adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities in residential care and day services for Northern Ireland are not available centrally.

Staff working in the learning disability teams and programmes of care cannot be broken down into residential and day services. Information has been provided for staff (social services staff, nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff and medical staff) working in these departments by health and social services (HSS) trust. Only departments with learning disability in their title have been included. The information is as at 30 September 2002 to match the information supplied by England and is provided in the following table.

Staff1 working in Learning Disability Teams or Programmes of

Care by Health and Social Services (HSS) Trust as at

30 September 20022
HSS Trust Headcount WTE3
North & West Belfast HSS Trust 143 132.47
Armagh & Dungannon HSS Trust 219 203.93
Foyle Community HSS Trust 120 117.99
South & East Belfast HSS Trust 78 72.28
Ulster Community & Hospitals HSS Trust 56 51.47
Down Lisburn HSS Trust 91 76.22
Causeway HSS Trust 17 14.07
Homefirst Community HSS Trust 11 9.60
Craigavon & Banbridge Community HSS Trust 22 17.92
Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 18 16.10
Newry & Mourne HSS Trust 4 2.90
Total 779 714.95
1 This includes figures for social services staff, nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff and medical staff.
2 Bank staff who cover for staffing shortfalls and fluctuating workloads in order to maintain service delivery have been removed from these figures. Home helps have been removed due to their variable working patterns. Student nurses have also been removed.
3 Whole time equivalent.

Information for Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of the devolved administrations.