No improvement in social services

Lincolnshire's Social Services Department has failed to improve in the past year, according to national ratings.

It follows news that the county's budget for social services is £20m below the national average.

The department has retained its one star rating which it achieved last year.

In the figures a zero rating is considered to be poor with three stars being excellent.

Low spending

Each department has been judged on how well they are serving people .

The results show that Lincolnshire services for both children and adults are serving some people well but there is also room for improvement.

It comes a week after the department was criticised in a government report highlighting the number of outstanding cases and a chronic shortage of social workers.

The report also noted the council's social services spending was 14% less than the national average.