§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of social workers with a child protection background. [145723]
§ Dr. LadymanThe Government are funding a national social work recruitment campaign aimed at raising awareness about what social workers do and increasing the number of applications to social work training. The campaign has been successful so far in reversing the trend of falling numbers of applications to social work courses: in 2002 the applications rose by 6.5 per cent. A post-qualifying child care award was developed in 1999 to ensure that social workers are equipped to undertake complex child care work and provide high quality services to children and families. Child protection is one of the areas covered by the award.
468WSince January 2000, specific funds have been provided through the Training Support Programme Grant to help support child care social workers who undertake the award.