VULNERABLE people who are looked after at home or receive residential care should soon benefit from a better service.

A learning support unit is being developed within North Yorkshire County Council's social services.

Social care workers will, in future, receive training and other modern learning opportunities, such as computerised learning packages. This includes all care workers whether they work for the county council or private care companies.

It will also deliver a programme of National Vocational Qualifications in care across the social care sector.

Executive member for social services Murray Naylor said: "The level of skill required by the social care workforce is exceptionally high.

"The package of measures, which is designed to ensure that sufficient skilled people are available to deliver high quality services in the future, is highly innovative and therefore capable of achieving its aim."

Director of social services Rosemary Archer said: "This new unit is a key part of the directorate's drive to ensure that North Yorkshire has a social care workforce which is as highly skilled as possible.

"Staff who work in local care services do an amazing job and take seriously the directorate's responsibility for making sure people have the right skills to continue to improve care services in the future."

* Anyone interested in pursuing a career in social care is asked to call (0845) 601 8512.