KIRKLEES social services officers have unveiled a dossier on how services for children in care have been improved.

Officials have presented a report to the council's Overview and Scrutiny Panel for Social Affairs.

It shows what action has been taken after a 2004 performance review by the Government's Commission for Social Care Inspection.

New guidelines follow recommendations made nationally in the report on the Victoria Climbie scandal.

Paul Johnson, the council's assistant director of children and family services, said: "The report was not set up because there are specific serious issues that need to be addressed.

"Generally, the picture looks healthy. So this is about making sure the council understands the progress we are making."

Kirklees was given the maximum three-star rating in the Government review and praised for its improvements in most areas.

But there were areas which needed attention. These were:

The amount of offending being done by looked-after children; the amount of truancy and the fact that no looked-after children were gaining five A-C grade GCSEs.

Looked-after children are those for which the council has legal responsibility . They include youngsters in children's homes, foster care in and outside Kirklees and those under care orders but living with their family.

In 2004, social services had improved the number of children getting one GCSE, but the number getting five A-C grades was at zero.

Inspectors said this needed looking at and money was found to pay for a careers adviser.

Each child has been monitored individually and given specific education plans.

Now, 7.1% of looked-after children are getting five A-C grades.

Inspectors also found that in 2004, 19.4% of children in care missed 25 days of school, as against a national average of 12.6%.

Social services has brought in a reward scheme for attendance and given care homes extra support to get children to school.

Now, 18.8% of children miss 25 days of school.

Mr Johnson said: "We're trying to turn things round, but it is not easy.

"By the time young people become looked after by us, they have come from environments where attending school hasn't been seen as a priority."

Inspectors also wanted offending by looked-after children reduced.

Social services are now working closely with the police and have established a new social work team to tackle the problem.

An increase in the number of staff with extra qualifications was also suggested.

Since then, five more social workers have gained such qualifications and 18 more children and families staff have attended training for it.

A programme for experienced staff is to be set up.

Mr Johnson said: "All staff working with children are suitably qualified to so do."

The overview panel was to decide if enough has been done or whether more action should be recommended.

It will also be looking at a new guide produced by social services, which outlines how staff should act in their roles as ``corporate parents or looked after children.