Safeguarding services are 'inadequate'

They are supposed to be protecting Gloucestershire's most vulnerable kids.

But safeguarding services in the county are inadequate according to a new Ofsted report, following an inspection last year.

It says improvements are already being made but the changes need more time to have a fuller effect.

One of the reasons for the poor report is down to the extra work load placed on social workers since the death of baby Peter.

In the last two years the number of refered cases has risen from 4294 in 2008 to 5688 in 2010, while the number of children with child protection plans has nearly doubled to just over 400.

Gloucestershire County Council told Heart they have taken on 30 new social workers to help improve things, there has been a complete change in management and an extra one million pounds is being invested in helping homeless children, who are seen as at risk.

In a seperate Ofsted report Gloucestershire's childrens services were give a rating of 3 out of 4,

This covers schools, colleges, children in care, nurseries and children's centres.