The improvement plans will be put before councillors

The local authority was ordered to produce the strategies after the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) uncovered a catalogue of failings.

A social work adviser was hired to help to deliver significant improvements across the department.

The plans will go before councillors and then be submitted to the SWIA which will monitor their progress.

Two critical reports, one covering general social services and the other criminal justice social work, were published in September.

Unsatisfactory leadership

The SWIA found the department's performance wanting across almost all categories.

Leadership was described as unsatisfactory and 24 recommendations made for improvement.

In the criminal justice division, seven key areas for improvement were identified.

These included the production of social enquiry and background reports, and the supervision and management of offenders released into the community.