CHILDREN's services in Worcestershire are improving according to inspectors, but they have highlighted some areas that still need to improve.

A damming Ofsted report, published just over a year ago, found that Worcestershire County Council's Children's Services were inadequate.

In September we reported that the failing children’s services were being taken over by an external body following Government intervention, with officers from Essex County Council – seen as some of the best in the country - brought in to support the beleaguered authority.

In a letter published by Ofsted on Thursday, February 22, following a monitoring visit in January, inspectors recognise that there has been significant financial investment enabling change to be implemented.

Inspectors have identified a "positive shift" in the morale and culture of the workforce. Social workers, they say, are growing in confidence.

While social work practice still needs to improve, inspectors report progress is starting to be made.

Inspectors reported seeing reduced caseloads for some, but not all parts of the workforce.

Ofsted inspectors also found that some children continue to experience too many changes in social workers and team managers and this continues to be an area where improvement is required.

In the letter, senior inspector Jenny Turnross said: "While services for children in Worcestershire continue to require much work to be of a good standard, progress has been made since the last monitoring visit.

"While there remain areas of improvement, this is an ongoing and positive trajectory for the quality of core social work practice."

Councillor Andy Roberts, cabinet member with responsibility for children and families, said: "Our staff are working very hard to deliver the improvements that we need to deliver.

"I am pleased that inspectors have seen some evidence of improvement for the second monitoring visit in a row.

"There is a lot more that we have to do and to support these ongoing improvements we are investing an extra £10.5 million into Children's Social Care in Worcestershire from April."

The next stage of deciding how children's social care services are to be delivered in the future in Worcestershire will be discussed by Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet next month.