MORE social services departments in the region are improving their performances after a third round of assessments.

Three years after the Government introduced star ratings to measure effectiveness of social service departments, more North-East councils have attained a respectable two star rating.

The ratings are based on regular evaluation and form part of an overall assessment of councils.

Darlington Borough Council was awarded the lowest one-star rating for the second year, but Durham County Council gained an extra star compared with last year.

Darlington council's social services director, Margaret Asquith, pledged improvements, saying: "We are already performing well in some areas of both adult and children's services, and our prospects for improvements in both are promising.

"We have already identified where we need to make the most improvements and plans are in place to move this forward."

Durham County Council, the region's biggest local authority, was awarded two stars after the Government shortlisted its services for the elderly for Beacon Council status.

Social services director Peter Kemp said: "The scale of improvement in just one year should not be underestimated. It is no small feat given the very complex and demanding issues which social services departments face.

"We have made improvements across the board, but particularly to services for older people, including those which enable them to stay in their own homes for longer, and others which minimise bed blocking.

"It is a tremendous reward for the effort and commitment of social services staff and, of course, the great thing is that it confirms our clients are receiving better services."