Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to develop a career pathway for care staff.

The Department funds a range of training opportunities to help develop career pathways in adult social care, including funding Skills for Care to further develop their leadership programmes and the Workforce Development Fund which offers employers access to funding to support their staff, as well as support and essential development opportunities for regulated professionals in social care. The Department is continuing to provide financial support to students to qualify as social workers through the Social Work Bursary and Education Support Grant, as well as expanding the Think Ahead Mental Health Social Work Scheme. In addition, the Government is investing £2.5 billion in the National Skills Fund which includes £95 million of funding to give adults free access to level 3 qualifications.