Care staff's free driving lessons

More staff are needed to support the elderly and the disabled

A council desperate to attract more home care staff to visit its elderly residents has resorted to offering new employees free driving lessons.

New recruits will receive 20 lessons after successfully completing a 13-week probation period, a spokeswoman for Oxfordshire County Council said.

The incentive is also being offered to non-driving existing staff, so they will be able to cover a wider patch.

The local authority says it also needs more people who will work longer hours.

Truly committed

Liz Maughn, home support project manager, said: "It is an idea that has been tried elsewhere in the country and one which we believe will be successful here.

"Many people are put off from applying for this type of job simply because they cannot drive, or, if they do apply, can only work a few hours for us."

In return for the first batch of free lessons, the new home support worker must agree to pay for and take the driving test and pay for any extra lessons needed to pass it, a council spokeswoman said.