WORCESTERSHIRE County Council’s failing children’s services are being taken over by an external body following Government intervention.

Trevor Doughty, the Department for Education’s Commissioner for Children’s Services in Worcestershire has called in officers from Essex County Council – seen as some of the best in the country - to support the beleaguered authority.

In a report, Mr Doughty blamed long-term failings for Worcestershire’s continued poor performance in the service, which was given an ‘inadequate’ rating by Ofsted earlier this year.

He added that the county council would need to adopt an alternative delivery model to bring about much-needed improvements.

The council said its priority is to improve the service but furious Wyre Forest Labour group members called for heads to roll in the wake of this report.

In the report, Mr Doughty said: "The failings in WCC Children’s Social Care Services are deep seated and complex and are continuing.

"These failings have clearly existed for some time, and appear to have become embedded in the thinking and behaviours throughout the whole service and are widespread."

He added: "I cannot support Children’s Services remaining in Worcestershire County Council in their current format and an organisational form that is more likely to deliver whole system improvement is more likely to achieve the intended outcomes."

The council must now discuss voluntarily placing children's services into this different form at this month's Cabinet meeting.

Stephen Brown, of Wyre Forest Labour group, said: “This is a forced outsource. A total abdication of Tory councillors’ responsibilities lead to this due to their obsession with Government cuts and of course rank incompetence.

“It's a total betrayal of the County's vulnerable children and the council's duty of care especially by the Tory councillors involved and those in power who did nothing to stop it happening.

“Not to mention their dereliction of duty in public office and surrender of their commitment to uphold the finest principles of public service. Those responsible should resign as councillors immediately.”

Councillor Andy Roberts, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Children and Families, said: "Our priority is to make sure that long term improvements are made to children and young people's lives in Worcestershire.

“We remain absolutely committed to that and we have already allocated an extra £5.1 million into improving Children's Social Care in Worcestershire this year.

"I am pleased that Essex County Council has now been formally appointed as our Improvement Partner. Essex will support us to deliver the improvements that we need to deliver."

The council added it has launched its new Children and Young People’s Plan.