FURTHER details have emerged which show more clearly how Swindon's troubled social services department is failing vulnerable people.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Advertiser, a withering report has revealed that the department is among the worst-performing in the country.

For the second consecutive year, Swindon Council received a zero-star rating for the way it provides services such as fostering, mental health care and services for the elderly.

And investigators at the Social Services Inspectorate are not certain that standards will improve.

Jo Osorio, director of Age Concern Swindon said: "There is an immense amount of work to be done to make sure older people in the borough receive the sort of services they expect."

The report found adults and children suffered because the council was slow to recruit a new management team after last year's report.

The council's previous director of social services, Marie Seaton, resigned last July because of that report.

The post was filled on a temporary basis until present director, Keith Sker-man, took over in July.

Problems recruiting staff were identified as having a knock-on effect on service provision, especially in the area of childcare.

It was not all bad news. Several areas of improvement were also identified.

These include areas like bed-blocking, where the council has worked with the Great Western Hospital to ease the problem. In the area of children's services, child protection was found to be good, and funding for two new six-bed residential units was obtained.

The council says it has implemented further changes since the inspection was carried out, and has vowed to improve.

Keith Skerman, head of social services, said: "We look forward to next year's set of results as they will be based on two inspections as well as our own performance information, and will let us know whether we are on the right track."

Have you had problems with social services? Call the Advertiser newsdesk on 01793 528144.

Tamash Lal