A NEW apprenticeship programme aimed at people wanting a career in care has been launched by Northumberland County Council.

The council has revealed its Care for Life scheme for those over the age of 16 to earn a wage while they learn in the care industry.

The scheme was in response to a need for more people to work in adult social care and a total of 30 places will be available in 2019 during the scheme’s first cohort.

Cath McEvoy-Carr, executive director of adult social care and children’s services at the council, said: “This new programme will give apprentices a fantastic range of experience and knowledge of the social care sector in Northumberland.

“We want to drive recruitment numbers across Northumberland, redress the demographic of social care workers, produce a ‘talent pipeline’ of skilled and motivated people and help produce leaders of the future.

“We want to create a clear career path and progression route for people who come into adult social care, and promote health and social care as a career of choice, ultimately improving services for those who use council and commissioned services in the county.”