A GROUP that helps single parents into employment is in the running for the highest national award for public services.
Tees Valley Lone Parent Team has made it to a shortlist of three in the Public Services of the Year Awards.
The group of 47 Jobcentre Plus staff, working in the five local authorities areas in the Tees Valley, beat tough competition from more than 240 other teams to reach the final.
The winner will go on to compete for the outstanding team of the year award, run by Public Finance magazine, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the Cabinet Office and the Office of Government Commerce.
The awards will be held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Thursday, April 21.
In the year ending September 2004, 1,562 single parents were encouraged into work by the Tees Valley team.
Interviews are carried out in children's centres and other community-based locations to enable more lone parents to access the team's services.
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