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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