Training for social workers in relation to cultural sensitivity

RFI - 2548

Thank you for your request for information received on 14th July 2010. I
am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act
2000 I have passed your request to relevant colleagues, and we will
respond to your request within 20 working days of receipt.

Regards,

Gemma

Gemma Snowball
Senior Admin Assistant
Chief Executives Office
Corporate Services
0191 211 6574 / x26574

show quoted sections

Please find below our repsonse to your Freedom of Information Request

Thanks

Dave Watson
Senior Admin
Telephone 211 6363 Ext 26363

Dear Newcastle upon Tyne City Council,

I would like to know what training Social Workers have in issues
relating to cultural sensitivity and the use of interpreters to
assist them in providing a service for clients.

Yours faithfully,

Tessa Gray

Newcastle City Council has a specialist Sensory Impairment Team that
will offer advice and guidance to social work colleagues in relation to
specific circumstances. We have arranged training for working with
interpreters in the past but this has not been identified as a priority
in our recent programmes and specific issues have been dealt with at the
team level drawing upon local knowledge, skills and resources.

We do not have a programme of training in relation to cultural diversity
that is designed specifically for social workers. Our approach is to
build upon social workers professional training and identify any further
development need through supervision and appraisal. There are a number
of equality and diversity training programmes that are available to all
council staff and these include "Religion, Belief and Cultural
Practices" and "Language Line". We direct social workers through these
programmes on an as and when required basis.

Please contact me again if you require any further information about the
learning and development arrangemets that cover social work staff in
Newcastle City Council.

If you are unhappy with the information supplied you can ask for an
internal review of our decision. Please send details of your request
for review to the following address:

Corporate Information Governance Officer
Chief Executive's Office
Civic Centre
Barras Bridge
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 2BN
Telephone: 0191 211 6644
E-mail: [Newcastle upon Tyne City Council request email]

If you are still unhappy with how the Council has handled your request
you can write to the Information Commissioner asking for an assessment
to be made. Contact details are as follows:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545745
E-mail: [email address]

Gary Daglish
Team Manager - Learning and Development
x22115

show quoted sections