THE first residents of a pilot staffed house for vulnerable youngsters are due to move in by the end of the month.

Two young people from the Redcar and Cleveland area have been identified as suitable to move into the accommodation, in a residential area.

Each will have a separate bedroom and will be cared for by a small team of staff in a set- up designed to resemble a family home.

The pilot scheme, which will be monitored throughout its operation, was devised after Redcar and Cleveland Borough councillors identified a need for a wider choice of residential care for youngsters.

They met representatives of Darlington and Stockton social services, which operates similar homes, to pick up tips on how to run them.

The house will be occupied only by those young people considered likely to gain the greatest benefits from it, which will not include those with drugs or behavioural problems.

A report on the scheme's progress will be presented to councillors in March 2001.

Barbara Shaw, Redcar and Cleveland's deputy director of social services, said: "The pilot will involve renting a property instead of a traditional children's type home and looking at one or two young people rather than a large group to live in a normal family environment.

"We are very positive about the scheme, along with the staff who will be managing it, and we would hope that, if it is successful, we could look at building on that."