The health minister, Stephen Ladyman, has announced a new service providing information for people interested in a career in social care.

The service will give information about different career options and what training is required. There will be information about approved social work courses and financial support for social work students.

Forum Response: General Social Care Council

A spokeswoman for the General Social Care Council told ePolitix.com: "Few other careers carry the same kind of responsibilities, nor offer the same kind of satisfaction as social care.

"As the regulator for the social care workforce in England, the General Social Care Council is very pleased that this new service announced by the Department of Health will offer the information people need to choose a career in social care.

"This new service will build on the information provided by the GSCC in areas like the financial support for social work students and the institutions approved to offer the new social work degree.

"We will be working with the department to ensure a smooth transition to the new service and to pass along our knowledge and expertise."

Forum Response: CARE

Adam Atkinson, head of communications at CARE, told ePolitix.com: "The advent of the new careers information service for social care should be a useful resource for social care personnel and those seeking to move into this important area of work.

"This forms a useful link with a number of social care agencies including the new General Social Care Council, training and employment organisations and should positively assist recruitment, training and development in the field of social care. CARE anticipates that outcomes for young people should be improved as a result of a more coordinated and supported social care sector.

"CARE understands the many needs and challenges that children and young people in need bring to social care agencies and welcomes the opportunity to be involved in meeting such need. CARE's fostering services team offer a range of fostering services to those children requiring an alternative environment in which to live as a result of offending, family breakdown, abuse or challenging behaviours.

"CARE is currently seeking to recruit more foster carers to further expand on this service and further meet the significant need. CARE is committed to recruiting, supporting and developing good quality social work professionals in order to better meet the needs of children in crisis. CARE therefore welcomes this new service."