SOCIAL care for adults in Worcestershire has been rated among the best in the country.

Worcestershire County Council has regained its three-star rating - the best possible score - for the social care services it provides for adults, following an annual inspection from the Department of Health.

Having slipped from three to two stars last year, the county has now regained the top spot it held in 2005 and 2006.

The inspectors rated the delivery of services across all seven key areas as either good (five areas) or excellent (two areas), and said the council’s leadership and use of resources were also both excellent.

Philip Gretton, the Conservative cabinet member for adult and community services, said: “The staff and management should be very proud of regaining the top rating of three stars, especially as our funding is so low compared with similar authorities.

“But there is no room for complacency, as the number of older people needing support is projected to rise substantially in future years, and people’s expectations about the quality of services are also rising.”