Government inspectors checking how children's services are run in Slough have found that young people do not always get the care they need quickly enough.

Concern is also expressed about a high turnover of staff.

A report by Government inspector Nicola Bennett following a visit by herself and four other Ofsted inspectors carried out in October, finds both good and bad in the performance by the Slough Children's Trust.

READ MORE: Slough's Grill Garden fined £1,000 for breaching Covid rules

It finds that where children need protection the trust responds promptly and proportionately with children being spoken to alone and effectively safeguarded.

But the children in need (CIN) and child protection (CP) teams come in for criticism.

The report says: "Inconsistent and sometimes slow recognition and response to children’s immediate and longer-term needs have resulted in delays in achieving timely improvements in their circumstances.

"Assessments seen in this part of the service are not completed in a timely way and are generally of poor quality. The majority include scant information from which to understand the child’s experiences."

READ MORE: Slough councillors react to Tier 3 news as borough faces tight restrictions

It warns that some children 'on the edge of care' are being allowed to drift and says: "While some delays are COVID-19 related, this is not the primary cause. Improved management oversight of this work is not yet demonstrating effectiveness."

There is good news though.

The report finds that children at risk of harm outside the family network are helped promptly and effectively.

It also finds that vulnerable children and young people have been well supported throughout the lockdown period.

The report says: "The decision not to employ staff who were unwilling to undertake face-to-face visits was, in the light of staff vacancies and caseload pressures, bold but understandable. Taking this decision has effectively promoted opportunities for children to be seen and heard and have their circumstances and risk assessed first hand."

The history of children's services in Slough has been a rocky one with the service deemed 'inadequate' at one point although recent inspections have highlighted improvements.