Mr Wilds has set a two-year target for improving social services

Stephen Wilds was brought in by the council after a highly critical report by the Social Work Inspection Agency.

He will take forward an action plan to tackle a total of 24 recommendations made by inspectors to improve services.

He has started a six-month contract and said he had been impressed so far with the positive attitude of staff.

However, he pointed out that it would take some time to see results.

There are lots of positive things here and my job is to build on those positive things that exist Stephen Wilds

"My experience tells me that improvements - to be recognised by the inspectorate - will take about two years to do," he said.

"That doesn't mean to say that I will necessarily be here for two years.

"But before they will recognise improvements across the council it will take about two years."

Mr Wilds added that despite the critical report he believed there were good points he could work on.

"It is a challenge but it is what I do," he said.

"One of the joys of doing it is you do see improvements out of these sorts of reports.