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About 170 people applied for a new social worker trainee scheme in Jersey which had just four places on offer.

The aim of the scheme run by Jersey's health and social services department is to ensure there are enough locally trained social workers.

John Cox, service manager at the States of Jersey community and social services department, said it was an incredibly rewarding career.

But he said it had been difficult to recruit staff from the island.

He said: "We're having increasing difficulties in recruiting from the UK.

"The other aspect is that we know full well we have some very talented people on Jersey who, due to the absence of a university here, cannot train on island to be social workers.

"This (scheme) ticks two boxes really - (it) helps us with recruitment and retention and provides a route for local talent to get into social work."