A REPORT into children’s services at Monmouthshire council found that there has been a “greater focus and attention” to improving practice but made ten recommendations to help the authority improve.

The report by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales, published yesterday, follows an inspection which took place in November.

It recognised that the service is basically sound and that no widespread or serious failures were identified during the inspection that left children being harmed or at risk of harm.

It also acknowledges good practice. Young people in need of protection were identified and appropriate referrals were made while child protection enquiries were thorough, timely and informed by decisions made at a strategy discussion. An area in which the council has made progress is the quality of record keeping and risk management.

However, it highlights areas for further improvement and includes a set of ten recommendations that the council has accepted and is committed to implementing.

Chief inspector for CSSIW, Imelda Richardson, said that while no serious failures were identified by inspectors, management oversight of child care practice was insufficient to ensure that this position would be maintained.

“The local authority acknowledged that prior to April 2014 there was insufficient attention given to improving frontline practice.”

County councillor Geoff Burrows, cabinet member with responsibility for social care and health, welcomed the report and praised the service’s enthusiastic and committed team.