The Government has ordered Solihull MBC to make urgent improvements to its children's social care services following ‘serious' concerns over how it protects vulnerable children.

A joint inspectorates' report published last week - commissioned following the murder of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes - found children in need of help and protection in Solihull wait too long for their initial assessment.

The Department for Education (DfE) has now issued the council with an improvement notice following ‘serious practice concerns' and evidence of ‘unassessed and unknown risk'.

Solihull has been ordered to implement an improvement plan that will deliver ‘appropriate and sustainable' improvement.

The DfE will review progress against the improvement plan at least every six months and has appointed an improvement adviser to help the council make changes.

Ministers may intervene further at the council if it fails to make the necessary improvements.