PEOPLE keen to work in health and social care but lacking the necessary experience are being given a unique opportunity to get into the field, thanks to a new scheme.

The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has linked up with partner organisation NHS Professionals to launch the Care Support Worker Development Programme and is looking to recruit people who have the emotional and life skills to work in health and social care,

Candidates who make it through the recruitment process will be trained to become a fully-fledged care support worker.

Tina Naldrett, assistant director of nursing for the trust, said: 'People the trust cares for have told us they feel safe when treated with compassion, dignity and skill.

'This matches our view as an employer of wishing to attract people who care about others and share our values. We can then realise their potential to become skilled individuals through training.

'With our partners at NHSP we have developed a programme which invites people into healthcare who have never been in a formal caring role before. The Care Support Worker Development Programme is an exciting way of doing this.'

Successful candidates will have four days of training, an initial week to enhance their clinical skills and a three month paid placement, assisted by a mentor.

Candidates may then undertake a variety of work with NHSP or move into other posts. A total of 12 places are available for the first intake in September, with a similar number set to join in November.

The first assessment day took place in Exeter on July 24. There are further assessment days in Barnstaple on Tuesday, August 21 and in Exeter on Tuesday, September 25.

Anyone interested in joining the programme should call the NHS Professionals team on 01271 349581.