SUNDERLAND'S social services are serving the city well, according to two Government reports.

The reports, published yesterday by the Department of Health's social services inspectorate, cover children's services and areas such as older people's care and support for pregnant young women.

In the second, Sunderland's social services are identified as having areas of "outstanding performance".

The reports identify strengths, including:

l A comprehensive approach to supporting young people leaving the family home;

l Ensuring pregnant young women are properly supported and given opportunities to continue studying and gain parenting skills;

l Giving physically disabled people the chance to live in good quality, newly-built bungalows, with excellent support;

l Very good flexibility in older people's care;

l Excellent communication with children in care;

l A first class short-break service for adults.

The reports follow the department's national award for developing its workforce, its ranking in the top ten per cent nationally, which it achieved last October, and its successful audit commission joint review, in November 2000.

Social services director John Marsden said: "The success the department has had over recent years, and continues to have, reflects a true partnership between people who use services, their carers, the department's staff, our partners in other council departments, the NHS and the voluntary sector.

"I believe that vulnerable people in Sunderland are well served and will continue to be so with the overall support of the city council."

He said efforts were being made to give children in care educational materials, computers and learning mentors to improve their performance.