Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that social care staff receive the most up-to-date information on HIV during their training.

It is the responsibility of individual employers to ensure that their staff are appropriately trained and competent to fulfil the responsibilities of the role. This includes ensuring that their knowledge and skills are kept up to date.

HIV would be covered in infection control which is part of the Care certificate and is included in units within social care diplomas in terms of a good practice for general infection control.

Introduction of the Care Certificate for new healthcare assistants and social care support workers from 1 April 2015, is introducing specific standards for the training of new care workers. By working to achieve the Care Certificate, care support workers will develop the required behaviours, competencies and skills to enable them to provide high quality compassionate care.