A SERVICE for disabled people in Worcestershire has been hailed as a role model for the entire country.

An Ofsted inspection has ruled that Worcestershire County Council’s learning disabilities team provides an impressively high standard of service.

The report described Worcestershire as a role model for service providers nationally, demonstrating excellent leadership, management and quality of service provision.

The regulator has recommended that the team’s achievements, particularly how they help service users find employment, are published on the Ofsted good practice website.

Stephen Chandler, head of Worcestershire’s learning disabilities service, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the team, who consistently deliver a high quality service to support people with disabilities into work. The team has maintained a high standard of provision and attained outstanding judgements in many aspects of the service at inspection this year.

“Exceptional feedback from employees reflects our commitment to providing excellent support into work and the difference the programme has made to people’s lives.”

Two areas in particular were praised by Ofsted: the work assessment programme, which equips individuals with transferable employment skills, was judged to be impressive and over and above Worcestershire’s contractual requirements, while the training and employment opportunities programme, which offers support for employees through free IT, literacy and numeracy classes, was judged to be outstanding.

Inspectors found that the team’s support made a big difference to the lives of people with learning difficulties, both in and outside work.

Councillor Philip Gretton, council’s cabinet member for adult and community services, said: “They (learning disabilities team) all work very hard and this Ofsted judgement recognises the dedication they all contribute to in making a difference to people’s lives.”