‘Raise training to continental levels’

England and Wales should bring the training of children’s home
workers up to continental levels, peers have been told.

Lord Listowel said residential care staff elsewhere in Europe
had university qualifications.

During a debate on looked-after children in the House of Lords
Lord Listowel said the government had failed to reach its target of
ensuring 80 per cent of residential child care workers had attained
an NVQ level 3 qualification by January 2005.

Social care training body Topss has estimated that only 50 per
cent of staff have reached the required standard.