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Buckinghamshire social services outlined a draft action plan aimed at improving social care services, following a joint review, writes Clare Jerrom.

The report found some people were served well, and there was evidence of some good quality services, relatively high numbers of people receiving complex care packages and effective casework.

But other service users experienced serious delays in assessments and services, which was attributed to budget pressures, service availability and workload pressures on frontline staff.

The review identified a number of priorities for Buckinghamshire including developing clearer commissioning strategies, improving strategic planning systems, building on strategic partnerships, and ensuring the new council structures work well.

Sue Mead, assistant review director of joint reviews, said: "Although some people are getting a good service, overall there are too many delays and gaps. There are new structural arrangements in place in the county, the focus must now be on improving the responsiveness of the council to those people who need its help."

In response the council has outlined the action plan, and insists a number of improvements have been made since the review.

It has improved partnerships with the local health sector, and introduced a new information system. There have been reductions in the number of looked after children and those on the child protection register as a result of better planning and family support, and significant improvements in completing child protection reviews within timescale.