HEALTH professionals and business leaders across Redcar and Cleveland have been given an in-depth briefing on the changing face of the council's social services department.

The authority's director of health and social care, Maurice Bates, told an audience at Rushpool Hall, Saltburn, that the new financial year renewed emphasis on delivering service change.

The aim of the meeting was to outline the department's plans for the next three years.

Councillor Valerie Halton, cabinet member for social services, said: "Behind all that is what I believe to be the most important thing - the dedication of our staff to work with service users, their families and carers to improve the quality and provision and give people choice and control over their own lives."

Detailing the department's Shaping the Future strategy, the meeting heard the plans for change in older people's services with emphasis on short-stay and intermediate care, day care and enhanced dementia care.

Services for people with a learning disability are also to be changed.

Mr Bates said: "More people will be supported to live in their own tenancies and new forms of day service will be developed with the full involvement of service users and their carers."

Partnerships are also improving information technology and public access.