STUDENT social workers are being given the opportunity to hone their skills with the Tees Valley Housing Group (TVHG).

Five social care students from the University of Teesside are to become the first to undertake a short-term work placement with TVHG since the group was officially recognised as a centre of good practice in training.

Last year, the university sent four students on 30-day placements and their training was praised by a number of the university's lecturers.

The positive feedback from these assessments was a key factor in the university accepting placements again this year.

Helen Woolley, placement co-ordinator at the University of Teesside, said: "TVHG is able to offer our students an opportunity to gain practical experience in the social care sector, and gain first-hand knowledge of the organisations they will be working with in their future careers.

"Ultimately, this may serve to improve relations between the statutory services and individual organisations."

Alison Thain, chief executive of TVHG, said: "This is a mutually-beneficial partnership, and we were very pleased with the achievements of last year's placement students.

"We are looking forward to bringing the new group on board."