SOCIAL services for adults in Tameside have been named as the best in the country.

The service, which caters for around 10,000 residents, came out on top in an annual assessment by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

It means the care people currently receive has been classed as ‘excellent’ – the highest rating – in all of the seven categories which include increased choice, improved quality of life and maintaining dignity and respect.

Head of Social Services, Councillor John Taylor, said he was pleased but not surprised by the findings.

"It covers our home care services, our learning and physical disability services, the way we deal with people moving into care homes," he said."It can be as minute as someone delivering a meal or doing a bit of shopping, to learning disabilities where we have a member of staff living in the same house seven days a week. We have always been very, very good but this is the first time we have got ‘excellent’ in every category. It’s not a surprise to me but I am very pleased for the staff."

The news is a huge boost for around 2,000 staff across the service, from psychologists and physiotherapists to social workers and care workers.

The top team has also been given ‘excellent’ prospects for the future.

Councillor Taylor added: "One fairly new thing is the health issue, getting out there and trying to promote healthy lifestyles. We had already started to do that, we have appointed a health improvement officer, and I think they recognised that’s something we are already on the way to getting right."