AN extensive survey is to be carried out to assess the effectiveness of home care services on Teesside.

The adult and community services - formerly social services - department in Hartlepool intends to send questionnaires to a random sample of more than 500 people over 65 who use the personal care services.

They will be asked to comment on issues such as how they feel they are treated by carers, and what, if anything, they would like to change about the service.

The survey, which is also being carried out by a number of other local authorities, will allow the effectiveness of local services to be assessed, and then measured against those provided elsewhere in the country.

Nicola Bailey, Hartlepool Borough Council's newly-appointed director of adult and community services, said: "We aim to provide good quality services to the people of Hartlepool, and seeking the views of the people who use them is an important way of monitoring our performance and making sure it is up to standard.

"Taking part in the survey also enables us to contribute to national research."

Questionnaires will start arriving through letterboxes in the next few days, and recipients are asked to return them in the accompanying pre-paid envelope, by February 20. Council staff will be available to help if anyone requires assistance.

Anyone wanting further information about home care services, or requiring advice about any social care issue, can contact the adult and community services duty team on (01429) 523872.