Fears that directors of adult social services would be paid less than their children’s services counterparts appear to be unfounded, according to a Community Care survey.

Pay for adult social services directors ranged from £68,000 to £112,000 and in 85 per cent of the 19 councils that disclosed salaries children’s services directors were paid on the same scale.

But in cases where adult directors were paid less than their children’s services equivalent, the discrepancy could amount to nearly £30,000.

A third of adult directors surveyed also had responsibility for housing and one in five was in charge of cultural services. Other directors had remits including health, leisure, highways, crime prevention, personnel, neighbourhood services and trading standards.