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24 Feb 2003 : Column 373W—continued
Secure Hospitals
Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisoners with mental health problems were awaiting transfer to a secure hospital on the last day of 2002, broken down by prison establishment. [98524]
Jacqui Smith: Data are not currently collected in the form requested.
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Sexual Assault
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many sexual assault referral centres in the UK the Department funds (a) alone and (b) jointly with another agency, at premises other than at hospitals; [97123]
- (2) how many sexual assault referral centres the Department funds (a) alone and (b) jointly with another agency. [97240]
Ms Blears [holding answer 12 February 2003]: The Department does not directly fund sexual assault referral centres (SARCS). We understand that there are currently six SARCs in England but that their funding is a matter for the local police force and or authority and the local primary care trust and National Health Service trust.
However we are aware that the Home Office, through the crime reduction programme—violence against women initiative, is funding a nurse forensic examiner project at St Mary's SARC in Manchester. It is also funding a project to examine the impact that SARCs may have on attrition rates for sexual offences; comparing SARC areas with areas where no SARC is available. These are research projects, and interim data are currently being analysed. The findings will help inform decisions about future SARC development.
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the Department's policy is on locating future sexual assault referral centres at (a) hospitals and (b) separate premises; [97121]
- (2) what steps are being taken by the Department to support the establishment of sexual assault referral centres; [97238]
(3) how many sexual assault referral centres there are in the UK at hospital premises. [97241]
Ms Blears [holding answer 12 February 2003]: People who have been raped or sexually assaulted require access to a variety of services including forensic examination, counselling and treatment to prevent sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. We are aware that sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) have been developed in a number of areas to provide a 24 hour comprehensive service under one roof. Information on numbers of SARCs is not collected centrally however we understand that there are currently six across England. A number of different models exist, which include centres located within or attached to hospitals.
We will work with the Home Office to support the further development of SARCs and other service options.
Skin Conditions
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on long-term conditions, with particular reference to eczema, psoriasis and acne, if they are omitted from the National Service Framework on long-term conditions. [97981]
Jacqui Smith: The national service framework for long-term conditions will have a particular focus on neurological conditions, and brain and spinal injuries.
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But in so doing, it will also tackle some of the common issues which are relevant to a wider range of people with long-term conditions generally and help to drive up the quality of treatment and care.
In September 2000, the NHS Modernisation Agency established the Action on Dermatology programme. Around £35 million has been invested in capital projects since then. Action on Dermatology—Good Practice Guidance was published on 20 January 2003 and issued to dermatology departments in primary care trusts and strategic health authorities. This will help ensure that people with dermatological conditions have access to appropriate services and support across the country.
In December 2001, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued Referral Practice, a guide to appropriate referral from general to specialist services. The booklet includes the suggested referral practice for atopic eczema in children and psoriasis. A copy of the booklet is available at http://www.nice.orq.uk/pdf/Referraladvice.pdf
Social Services
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 328W, how many older people received each category of community based social services in each year since 1997. [96775]
Jacqui Smith: The figures quoted in the answer of 9 January 2003 come from the Key Statistics (KS1) return that is used to calculate the social services performance assessment framework (PAF) indicators. This information is contained in the publication 'Social Services Performance Assessment Framework Indicators 2001–2002' which is available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/paf. The indicator 'C32–Older people helped to live at home' provides the total number of older people receiving community-based services as at 31 March for the years 1998–2002. However, a breakdown of individual services is not available.
Social Work Degrees
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to minimise tuition fees costs for people wanting to undertake a three-year social worker degree. [98591]
Jacqui Smith: The bursary for social work students, which we are introducing in September 2003, will include the contribution for tuition fees which the local education authority has assessed the student should meet.
Social Work Diploma
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of specialisation in child care and child protection practice will be included in the new three year Diploma in Social Work. [96106]
Jacqui Smith: The training for the new social work degree has an emphasis on learning for practice. There is a requirement for students to spend a minimum of 2002 days learning in practice in at least two settings, to include statutory social work tasks involving legal intervention and of providing services to at least two
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user groups. Training providers must also ensure that students undertake specific learning in a number of key areas including communication skills with children, adults and those with particular communication needs. Partnership working and information sharing across professional disciplines and agencies must also be covered. I have placed a copy of the Requirements for Social Work in the Library.
On qualification there are opportunities for further training in specialist areas such as childcare. As part of the reform of social work education, the General Social Care Council (GSCC) is undertaking a review of the current framework for post-qualifying training for social work. This will include a review of the PQ Child Care Award.
Social Workers
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on the training of unqualified staff as social workers from in-house local authority social services departments. [96076]
Jacqui Smith: I have not issued any guidance regarding the training of unqualified staff as social workers. However, at the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) conference in October 2000 my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced funding for a three-year student support scheme for those studying for first level professional social work qualifications.
The funds for this scheme were put into a ring-fenced sub-programme of the Training Support Programme Grant and they have been used to enable employers to develop their experienced care staff by putting them forward for training in the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW). This year the funds can also be used to support staff who commence the new three year degree in social work in September 2003. The funds available in this TSP sub-programme are as follows:
| 2001–02 | £3 million |
| 2002–03 | £13 million |
| 2003–04 | £13 million |
In 2003–04, £6 million will be allocated to ensure that each local council area has a Trainee Social Worker scheme. Some councils already have schemes to 'grow their own' social workers through trainee social worker schemes. The programme we are proposing will ensure that a scheme will be operating in all areas.
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of applications to be social workers in (a) London and (b) the UK. [97585]
Jacqui Smith: To make social work a more attractive career choice, a new degree level qualification in social work is being introduced from September 2003. It will make newly qualified staff more confident, competent and better equipped for the realities of social work practice. Also, for September, a non-means tested bursary is being introduced to encourage more students to enter social work training. It will be payable to new and existing students, who ordinarily reside in England and who are not funded by their employer.
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Both developments are supported throughout, by the national social work recruitment campaign, launched in October 2001, backed by funding of £1.5 million. Applications for social work courses have risen for the first time in seven years, by 8.3 per cent, on the numbers for 2001.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies he estimates there are for social workers in (a) the Portsmouth area and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [98344]
Jacqui Smith: We do not hold central information on social worker vacancies in each local authority area. A survey undertaken by the Employers Organisation found that, across all local authority social services in England as at 30 September 2001, around 10 per cent, of all field social worker posts were vacant. Regional variations show that, as of 30 September 2001, the south west has vacancy rates of 8.5 per cent.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of social worker applications in (a) the Portsmouth area and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [98345]
Jacqui Smith: To make social work a more attractive career choice a new degree level qualification in social work, is being introduced from Sept 2003. It will make newly qualified staff more confident, competent and better equipped for the realities of social work practice. Also, for September, a non-means tested bursary is being introduced to encourage more students to enter social work training. It will be payable to new and existing students, ordinarily resident in England, who are not funded by their employer.
Both developments are supported throughout, by the national social work recruitment campaign, launched in October 2001, backed by funding of £1.5 million. Applications for social work courses have risen for the first time in seven years, by 8.3 per cent, on the numbers for 2001. The action taken by the Department of Health is to increase the number of social worker applications in England. It is for local employers to take other specific action locally.
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