Southend social services has been named and shamed as one of the worst in the country.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has warned the department to improve significantly by next summer or face being taken over by a top-performing council.

The move came after a report published earlier this year said older people, children and those with mental health problems suffered at the hands of poor social services in Southend.

Mr Milburn said: "By the time we award star ratings for social services next summer, if performance and prospects for further improvement remain poor, I will consider using other intervention powers."

However, Verina Wilson, Southend Tory cabinet councillor for health and social care, defended the department, claiming it was based on data gathered other the last three years.

She said: "We are being judged very harshly - punished, I feel, on something that isn't correct data.

"It's all very well for the Government to use a big stick to punish us but it's not good for morale and everyone is having problems recruiting people in social services.

"The answer lies in the Government's own hands. If it gives us the extra resources we need, we can improve."

A Joint Review Team, made up of the Audit Commission and the Social Services Inspectorate, spent two months last year carrying out an investigation into Southend social services and found 37 weaknesses.

They included services for older people were suffering due to low spending by the council and the high cost of the services provided

Mental health services were also a cause of major concern - so bad the council's future progress must be recorded on a register.

By Pat Stone

Reporter's e-mail: pat.stone@notes.newsquest.co.uk

and

Charlie Mellor

Reporter's e-mail: charlie.mellor@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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