§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets his Department has set for recruitment of social workers. [159741]
§ Dr. LadymanThe Department's national planning guideline is to recruit an additional 50,000 whole time equivalent people into the social care workforce, which includes 5,000 social workers by 2005–06.
As an incentive to train as a social worker, a bursary is available to all students who are not supported by their employer. The introduction of a degree in social work will also help to make this a more attractive career choice.