THE director of children’s services has received a vote of confidence from the very top.

Chief executive Trish Haines said she was confident that Gail Quinton and her team were capable of improving the failing safeguarding children arrangements.

Coun Liz Eyre, the new lead member for children’s services, was also praised.

At a meeting of cabinet at County Hall, Mrs Haines said: “I’m confident in Gail Quinton’s team. I am also grateful to Liz Eyre for her political leadership.”

Mrs Haines also said people had been right to be “shocked and upset” by Ofsted’s report but that the failings were not indicative of the whole of children’s services.

“The problems we are facing are not reflected across the service, in fact quite the opposite,” she said.

Coun Eyre said the council has already indentified an additional £1.5 million investment over the next three years to address the capacity issues within children’s social care.

She also said she had received a phone call from Tim Loughton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, who confirmed the Government’s level of intervention.