Children's Services to be the best?

Heart's been speaking to the new member for children's services at Essex County Council about how they're improving social care for youngsters.

After Essex was given the worst possible rating, inadequate, the county council tell us they're aiming to be ranked among the best in the country within 3 years.

Making sure social workers aren't dealing with too many case loads and ensuring vulnerable children are being put in the right placements are just some of the things they're working on.

Already, an extra 40 social workers, are helping to clear the backlog.

Councillor Sarah Candy's told Heart finding more foster workers is their top priority as they provide a more stable home environment than residential housing.

It could also help to save the county council up to £20m per year.

They're looking for one hundred extra families to sign up as foster carers in Essex - so far, 14 have come forward since April.