Training is “dispensable extra” for some Scottish councils

Some local authorities regard training as a “dispensable extra”,
the chief inspector of social work in Scotland has warned.

Angus Skinner said in his third annual report: “Training is
still sometimes treated as a dispensable extra, rather than a core
business activity.”

However, he went on to say that the majority of local
authorities are preparing to meet the qualification requirements of
the register for staff and that the training plans are in
place.

Whilst the focus for registration is currently on social workers
who are already qualified, there is likely to be a minority of
workers who cannot be registered because they will not have the
qualifications to continue employment in their existing jobs,
Skinner said.

He warned that the redeployment of social care workers who are
unwilling or unable to achieve the necessary qualifications
required for the national register will be a major challenge for
local authorities.

The report also said that the number of vacancies for qualified
social workers grew by 10 per cent between 2002-03 from 564 to
621.

Annual
report available here