Would you please be able to assist with the following?
1. What was your training budget in 2023/2024 for adult social workers?
We do not have a separate budget for Social Workers alone, we have a larger budget for all of Adult Social Care learning.
2. What training courses did you commission in 2023/2024 for adult social workers?
a/ How many sessions of each course did you commission?
The answers for question 2 and 2a can be found below:
- Level 2 Mental Capacity Act Training – 5 sessions
- Level 2 Responding to Safeguarding Adult Concerns (not just for Social Workers) – 10 sessions
- Level 2 Responding to Safeguarding Adult Concerns Refresher Training (not just for Social Workers) – 4 sessions
- Level 3 Participating in Safeguarding Adult Enquiries -6 sessions
- Level 3 Participating in Safeguarding Adult Enquiries Refresher Training – 1 session
- Supporting a Learner (not just for Social Workers) – 2 sessions
- Introduction to Working in Integrated Adult Social Care previously known as Care management Induction – Mandatory Training (not just for Social Workers) – 3 sessions
- Best Interest Assessors and DoLS Doctors Update – 2 sessions
- AMHP Deaf Mental Health and Cognition Training – 1 session
- AMHP LGBT+ Training – 3 sessions
- AMHP Re-approval Portfolio Workshop – 3 sessions
- AMHP Referral Decision Making – 4 sessions
- AMHP Report Writing – 2 sessions
- Day for All – 3 sessions
- Well-Led Care Act Practice Training (not just for Social Workers) 5 sessions
b/ What was the price per course?
c/ Who delivered each course?
For questions 2b and 2c, this information is exempt from disclosure under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests)
Devon County Council can confirm the requested information is held; however, it’s disclosure would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of Devon County Council. This is because sharing this information could jeopardise our ability to achieve best value for money as well as leading to providers benchmarking against prices submitted. This may then lead to our procurement process being less competitive.
The Council has considered the public interest in releasing this information and recognises there is a public interest in openness and transparency. However, there is a stronger public interest in ensuring best value for money for the taxpayer so the maximum amount of money can be spent on services for the people of Devon.
Therefore, the balance of public interest weighs in favour of withholding this information from disclosure.
d/ What was the method of delivery (e.g. in-person, virtual, eLearning etc.)
The method of delivery for the courses above was in person alongside virtual and e-learning to be completed before attending.
3. What was your training budget in 2023/2024 for children’s social workers?
£106,000.
4. What training courses did you commission in 2023/2024 for children’s social workers?
a/ How many sessions of each course did you commission?
The answers to question 4 and 4a are below:
- Yearly subscription open to all social workers – N/A
- Child Sexual Abuse Practice Leads – 12 consultations
- Parental Alienation – 1 session
- Court Skills – Attending Family Court and Presenting Verbal Evidence x 2 – 2 sessions
- Honour Based Violence & Domestic Abuse in the Court Arena (Practice Week) – 1 session
- Role of the Guardian (Practice Week) – 1 session
- Understanding Alienating Behaviours (Practice Week) – 1 session
- Motivational Interviewing – 20 sessions
- Motivational Interviewing (Group Supervision) – 2 sessions
b/ What was the price per course?
c/ Who delivered each course?
For questions 4b and 4c, this information is exempt from disclosure under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests)
Devon County Council can confirm the requested information is held; however, it’s disclosure would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of Devon County Council. This is because sharing this information could jeopardise our ability to achieve best value for money as well as leading to providers benchmarking against prices submitted. This may then lead to our procurement process being less competitive.
The Council has considered the public interest in releasing this information and recognises there is a public interest in openness and transparency. However, there is a stronger public interest in ensuring best value for money for the taxpayer so the maximum amount of money can be spent on services for the people of Devon.
Therefore, the balance of public interest weighs in favour of withholding this information from disclosure.
d/ What was the method of delivery (e.g. in-person, virtual, eLearning etc.)
A mixture of in person and virtual sessions.
5. Do you have a Workforce Development contact for Adult Services? If so, please provide their contact details.
6. Do you have a Workforce Development contact for Children’s Services? If so, please provide their contact details.
7. Who is the Mental Capacity Act/Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (MCA/DoLS) lead at your council? If so, please provide their contact details.
8. Do you have an Approved Mental Health Practitioner (AMHP) lead? If so, please provide their contact details.
For questions 5-8, please visit the following link to the organisational structure chart for Adult Social Care Director of Integrated Adult Social Care – Devon County Council.
Contact details are exempt from disclosure under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Personal Data).
Devon County Council can confirm the requested information is held; however, the Council cannot disclose personal information if releasing it would contravene any of the provisions in the UK General Data Protection Regulation. In this instance release of this information would contravene the first data protection principle and therefore the information is withheld.
9. How many Best Interest Assessors (BIAs) do you employee?
17.6 FTE.