HUNDREDS of care staff in Bolton's residential homes will have access to better training thanks to a cash handout.

The Bolton Partnership for Health and Social Care Training has received more than £85,000 in Government funding. The money will be used for a range of courses mainly at induction level or leading to assessor and registered managers awards.

Currently, 80 per cent of care workers nationally are unqualified.

Among the Government's targets are for 50 per cent of the workforce to obtain NVQ Level 2 by 2005. There is also an NVQ Level 4 qualification for Registered Home Managers which all managers will be expected to obtain.