Worcestershire County Council has approved plans for children’s social care services to be delivered by a new wholly owned council company.

The council has been working with Essex County Council after ‘serious failures’ were found in its services for children, although inspectors have reported improvements since then.

The council’s director of children, families and communities, Catherine Driscoll, said: ‘I want every pound that we spend on our children's services to improve outcomes for children and young people in the county. I am pleased that we are continuing to move forward on this.

‘We are committed to ensuring that we have the right model for Worcestershire, a model that helps us to continue to deliver the improvements that we need to deliver.’

The recommendation is now subject to final approval from the Department for Education.