asked the Minister for Health if, in anticipation of the proposed new Children Bill, he intends to draw up specific guidelines on social work staffing levels for regional health boards.
653.
Written Answers. - Social Work Staffing Levels.
652.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the wide discrepancies in social work staffing levels between the eight regional health boards; and whether he has specific plans to create more unformity in staffing levels.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 652 and 653 together.
A number of factors give rise to the lack of uniformity in levels of social worker staff. These include the uneven development of certain community services; the fact that in some areas there is a greater emphasis on the voluntary sector than in others; and various other considerations such as the distribution of population.
In relation to the Children Bills, my Department intend discussing with health boards the general staffing implications of these Bills when they are closer to implementation. The question of devising suitable staffing guidelines for the social work area will arise when that is being done.