Three social services departments have improved sufficiently to be removed from the list of those subject to special measures.

Health Minister John Hutton yesterday announced that Barking and Dagenham, Barnsley, and Hillingdon had made enough progress to be removed from the list of poorly performing councils.

He said: "All these councils have achieved significant improvements in their services. This has been the result of strong leadership and a commitment by staff at all levels to respond to the needs of service users. This has required major cultural change and the introduction of new ways of working.

"I would like to congratulate the staff in all three councils for the improvements that they have achieved and look forward to seeing sustained progress in the future."

Twelve local authorities now remain on the list and are subject to special monitoring by the Social Services Inspectorate following an adverse SSI or Join Review inspections or after serious incidents which give cause for major concern.

Barking and Dagenham was placed on special measures following a poor joint review in 1997 which concluded that the authority was not meeting the needs of the community and that the overall quality of services provided was poor.

But the appointment of a new Chief Executive saw a "constructive dialogue" established and there is now evidence of improvements in a number of areas including: