Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat Health Minister, has said that care home staff will be forced to undergo compulsory training for the first time under the Coalition’s plans to protect the elderly from abuse and neglect. Mr Lamb warned that the lack of basic requirements for training care workers was leaving frail pensioners in the hands of staff who have “no idea of what they are doing”. Proposals expected within weeks will suggest national minimum standards for preparing recruits to work in nursing homes. Carers who help with tasks such as washing and dressing elderly people at home will also be required to have the training. This is good news says County Cllr Bill Winlow, and not before time.

LGIU Daily News, Feb 9th