All people working in social care jobs in Northern Ireland will have to be registered, under new plans outlined by Social Services Minster Michael McGimpsey.

Since the current register was introduced in 2005, more than 7000 workers have registered, but it is predicted that there are still around 20,000 workers who are not down on the Northern Ireland Social Care Council register.

The proposals will mean care home workers and assistants, in addition to those in domiciliary care jobs will be undergo proper vetting before being allowed to work with some of society's most vulnerable people.

The minster told UTV: "I am committed to ensuring unsuitable people are prevented from working with children or vulnerable adults and to improving the standard of social services."

"I believe registration of the workforce plays an important part in achieving this goal and assuring the public of the competence and safety of individual staff to provide a quality service."

As reported by BBC News, the registration process would be introduced gradually with those in social care management jobs being among the first to sign up.

Unqualified residential child care workers will also be among the first 14,000 employees that will need to be registered.