Problems in Children's Services could be swept away as councillors were told the department will be restructured.

This will allow staff to be able to support children and adults according to the new head of Powys County Council's Children's Services, Jan Coles.

She told the Health, Care and Housing Scrutiny Committee, that a consultation on the restructure will take place in January as the current structure had "failed."

Ms Coles outlined some of the changes she is hoping to implement while going through the departmental report for October which showed improvements.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr James Gibson-Watt who represents Glasbury, said: "Yes it's an improving picture but, the spend is really high.

"We will have to stop spending one day as it's having an impact on other services."

Ms Coles replied:  "The staff are incredibly dedicated and really committed to make certain this service functions well.

"The second thing that struck me is that they are working in a structure that  does not allow them to do the best work they can do.

"The structure we currently have has failed and has failed the children we are seeking to serve. That has been widely recognised.

"We're going to be carrying on the restructure which will be done in a phased approach."

She hoped a new structure could see former PCC staff return to the department.

Ms Coles, added:  "I'm really optimistic, the Well being Act gives us an amazing opportunity.

"The Children's Act asked us to have a drawbridge and ask a for a special password before people could pass through to children's services.

"What we need now is the draw bridge down and when people ask us for support we have levels of support ready for them.

"That's where we will be focussing our funding.

"Instead of paying £7,500 for a child placement, we should have been working with the family two years ago when they first came for support.

"The restructure will take into account how to stem the demand rather than deal with the flow coming through."

Ms Coles took the councillors through the report highlighting some successes:

"I was really pleased to see that performance is improving across the service."

Looked after children visits were at 98 per-cent.

Welshpool team achieved 100 per cent of their child protection visits

Ms Coles added: "The improvement in October has been achieved despite increasing demand."

"The number of assessments, statutory visits and contacts all increased."