SOME of the unsung heroes of social services are celebrating after being presented with an Investors In People award.

The accolade is made to organisations that can demonstrate their commitment to enabling staff to fulfil their potential.

The strategy and performance business unit of North Yorkshire's social services are the latest to make the grade.

The unit has about 120 staff who help people to access support from social services through their customer relations unit, ensuring the providers of housing support services are paid, as well as training and complaints.

The county's executive member for social services, Councillor Murray Naylor, said: "This is a superb achievement which is very well deserved. There are a lot of unsung heroes who work in social services and it is good to see them getting some of the recognition they deserve."

Unit head Richard Pick said: "I am pleased for the staff and managers, who have all worked hard to demonstrate that our approach to staff training and support reaches the standard required.

"But even more importantly the real winners are the people of North Yorkshire who need help from social services."