More experienced qualified social workers are needed if children's care in north Kent is to improve.

The need for more experienced staff is highlighted in a draft plan, produced after the County Council's failed Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) inspection last November.

In a recent cabinet meeting, Kent County Council leader Paul Carter said he is "impatient" that the services are turned around quickly, the News Shopper reports.

"I have spent some time visiting three or four of the district teams to talk to frontline staff and moral is high. They really have a can do mentality and accept the failings in the report and are determined to improve," he said.

Mr Carter also acknowledged that there is a need to make Kent, which is the largest education authority in the country, a more attractive option to those who have vast experience in social work jobs. He suggests that one way this can be done is through better reward packages.

Although the social worker vacancy level is currently falling to below 10 per cent, the roles are mostly carried out by newly qualified social workers who are unable to handle the same number of caseloads as their colleagues that are more experienced.

"Fundamentally we need to be more creative. Clearly we are not doing enough," Mr Carter added.

Sarah Hohler, cabinet member for families and education added: "I think focus is incredibly important. We are not going to turn this around unless we really focus."