CARE Inspectors still have "serious concerns" about Powys County Council's Children's Services Department.

Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) inspected the department again in October 2018.

CIW acknowledged that the under fire department has improved slightly since the damning October 2017 report, but were seriously concerned about workforce turnover,

They will continue to monitor every three months and could return to re-inspect the department within 18 month.

In a statement the CIW, said: "There continue to be areas of practice where we have serious concerns.

"The continued turnover in the workforce and temporary middle management arrangements have been significant factors impeding the pace of change."

The CIW says that improvements since the last inspection include greater corporate oversight of children’s services, development of quality assurance,  greater ease of access to the ‘front door’ of children’s services, improved applications for court orders and greater frequency of visits to children looked after and those subject to child protection registration.

They have given four priority areas for development:

Ensure there is a clear strategic vision to deliver a seamless service and further develop collaborative working with health, education and the third sector to benefit children and families.

Develop better commissioning arrangements to ensure appropriate placements for children who are looked after. This includes improving choice of placements, reducing the numbers of children placed in an emergency and placed without agreed educational provision.

Ensure early multi agency involvement in safeguarding and ensure an immediate response to children at risk of sexual exploitation.

Ensure investigation of complaints are thorough and in accordance with Welsh Government guidelines.

The also commend the new plans to restructure Children’s Services, which they feel can improve the department.

PCC will have 20 working days now to review its existing improvement plan.

In October 2017, the Care and Social Services inspectorate Wales (CSSIW), now known as the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW), produced a damning inspection report into PCC Children's Services department, which revealed missed opportunities to safeguard children, poor risk assessment and serious performance issues with front line services.

In January 2018  the CIW gave the council a warning letter after a follow up visit to the authority.

Following te report in 2018 £6 million was pumped into the department to turn things around.

Another £6 million has been added to that.

In May 2018, a new Director of Social Services Ali Bulman was appointed.

In October 2018, a new Head of Children's Services, Jan Coles was appointed.