A deputy director of Ofsted has been tasked with improving Bexley's Council's care of children in the borough.

Jacky Tiotto will take up her post as director of children's services in February next year after her current employers branded Bexley’s children’s services "inadequate" in a number of key areas in 2012.

The most recent Ofsted report concluded the borough was doing better, but added that help and protection, looked after children and care leavers were all areas which still required improvement.

Ms Tiotto is currently deputy director of social care at the watchdog.

Her new role as a stand-alone director has been re-established as part of an effort to "streamline" children’s services, which includes a cut in the number of deputy directors from three to two.

Ms Tiotto said: "My first priorities will be to improve the pace and integrity of Bexley’s improvement work for children's social care and to engage closely with the schools partnership to ensure that all children attain well in good or outstanding schools and colleges.

"I hope to inspire colleagues working with me in Bexley so that together we can be relentlessly ambitious for all our children and young people."