To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to (a) identify and (b) disseminate good practice within social services departments. [30225]

We both identify and disseminate good practice through national and regional seminars and conferences, local networks of managers and leading professionals and the publication of inspection reports and studies which include examples of best practice. Our work with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work to improve the training of social services staff and with the National Institute for Social Work supports this strategy.