SERVICES for the most vulnerable children in Southend require improvement, according to the Government watchdog.

In a report published this morning, Ofsted has rated services in Southend for children who need help and protection, children looked after and achieving permanence, and leadership, management and governance, as "requires improvement."

However, within the children looked after an achieving permanence category, adoption performance and the experiences and progress of care leavers was rated "good."

A summary of the report said the quality of services had declined the previous inspection four years ago.

It said: " Some services are well led and provide good-quality, effective support for children and young people, and ensure positive outcomes as a result.

"However, the pace of change in areas where improvement is needed has been too slow and, overall, there has been a decline in the quality of services since the last inspection in 2012."

It added: "A very small number of children who have recently become looked after had remained longer than they should in harmful situations because of delays in progressing plans for them, although the authority was taking steps to manage the risk for them during this time.

"These children’s circumstances were complex, and becoming looked after resulted in them being safe."