A DETAILED study of social services in North Yorkshire has revealed major changes are needed to improve efficiency and avoid overspending.

North Yorkshire County Council commissioned the independent audit by PriceWaterhouseCoopers amid fears the council would fail to keep within the tight budget for social services.

There were also concerns about the reasons behind overspending in the department in recent years.

The report states the council will need to demonstrate "strong political will" and "full and continued commitment" to improve on its Department of Health one-star rating.

The audit gives nine recommendations "to minimise the risk of deterioration" within social services and to enable it to become a high-performing council service. These include developing a stronger business ethos, improving communication and focusing on performance management.

Councillor Murray Naylor, deputy leader of the county council and executive member for social services, welcomed the report. He said: "Like most social service departments in the country, we in North Yorkshire continue to be faced with increasing demand which inevitably results in budgetary pressures.

"Greater efficiency and altered working practices are clearly one way in which we can work to reduce the additional costs of rising demand."

Rosemary Archer, North Yorkshire's director of social services, said: "I am determined to ensure that we use the findings to continue to improve the service as much as possible.

"A service plan is being developed to introduce as many of these recommendations into the system as quickly as possible."

Updated: 10:52 Friday, June 13, 2003