Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 18 of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022-2024, CP 598, published in January 2022, when she plans to implement veteran-aware training for social work teams in every local authority in England.

The Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022-2024 included a commitment for the Office for Veterans' Affairs, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to explore options for the introduction of veteran-aware training for social work teams in every local authority in England. There are no immediate plans to implement this specific training.

Instead, the Principal Social Work Network for Adults across England meet on a regular basis to review all aspects of social work practice and training, underpinned by statutory and policy guidance, which includes the needs of the veteran community. This national network comprises of representatives from all settings including local authorities, National Health Service bodies, the voluntary sector, and Ministry of Defence organisations, and shares an undertaking to develop the competence of the workforce to meet the needs of all vulnerable groups, including veterans and their families and carers.

The Government has an ambition to make the United Kingdom the best place in the world to be a veteran by 2028. Veterans are entitled to the same social care and support as the civilian population in England.