CHILDREN’S services at an under-fire North-East council have made “significant progress” since a damning report by inspectors.

Last year, a Government watchdog branded the children’s services department at Sunderland City Council inadequate.

Inspectors identified “serious and widespread failings,” including criticisms in two serious case reviews involving the death of one child and injuries to another.

Following an overhaul – in which a new Commissioner for Children’s Services and a new departmental director were appointed and moves were started to have a private company run the department – Ofsted says there has been an improvement.

The first monitoring visit since the critical report was carried out in early August, examining services for care leavers, one of the areas highlighted as needing improvement last year.

Ofsted inspector Fiona Millns said: “The local authority is making significant progress to improve services for care leavers.”

Council leader Cllr Paul Watson said the authority had worked very hard to improve, adding: “We know that we’ve still got a long way to go and a lot of work to do before services are where they need to be.

“We won’t be happy until services across the board are in a much better place but it’s heartening to know we are beginning to make inroads in improving the lives of children and young people.”

Nick Whitfield, Sunderland’s newly-appointed Commissioner for Children’s Services added: “I’m pleased to see such a solid start on the improvement journey. I believe it gives us a huge amount to build on.”

Inspectors praised the council in a series of findings, including a determined response by senior managers to previous criticisms, manageable caseloads and a 20 per cent increase in the number of care leavers with pathway plans setting out how the council would help them live independently after care.

However, the inspection did find areas still requiring improvement including the quality of care recording and the quality of pathway plans.