A SECOND major report has criticised social services in Darlington for having "unacceptably long" waiting times for occupational therapy.

The review by the Commission for Social Care Inspection highlights the 25-month wait as a problem which needs addressing.

The report helps determine what star rating Darlington Borough Council's social services department will receive.

The question of occupational therapy waiting times was raised at an inspection earlier this year by the Social Services Inspectorate.

The inspectorate said that, in February, 67 people had been waiting since 2002 for an occupational therapist to assess their needs.

The latest report notes that the council has revised its staffing and is confident that the waiting list will be eliminated by December.

Figures also show 50 per cent of young people leaving care gained at least one GCSE, but none achieved five at grades A* to C.

However, the council also won praise.

A care trust for disabled children is being developed and a joint social services and education strategy for youngsters in care has been launched. The number of approved foster carers has risen to 79 and the number of children on the child protection register has dropped to 50.

In adult services, "significant progress" has been made in reducing the wait for people leaving hospital to go into care homes, and new facilities have been provided for visually and hearing impaired people.