Inspectors conducting a second monitoring visit since services in Darlington were judged inadequate in September 2015 said some "very necessary" staff changes had taken place, with some practitioners leaving the team and new appointments being made, including new management arrangements.
"Senior managers have responded swiftly to reduce caseloads, by increasing the number of employed social workers to enable the team to recover, redevelop and enable social workers to have more of an increased focus on children," a letter from Ofsted to Darlington's director of children's services Suzanne Joyner, who took up post in December 2015, said.
Children who spoke to inspectors said that they feel safe in their placements and in school, receiving good support from their social workers and carers.
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