THE search for a new director of children, schools and families at Cornwall Council is to go on after the application deadline was extended.

The role has been vacant since former director Dean Ashton announced his resignation last October ahead of a damning Ofsted report into children's services.

Interim director Richard Hubbard was appointed to take temporary charge of the role within a week of Mr Ashton's departure being announced.

The original application deadline closed at the end of February, and final interviews were due to be conducted last week.

However, a Cornwall Council spokesman confirmed the recruitment process was ongoing.

She said: "The council has expanded its search criteria for a director of children, schools and families and extended the deadline for receipt of formal applications.

"It is unlikely that an appointment will be made before the end of April.

"In the meantime, the interim senior management arrangements for the directorate which were put in place last autumn, continue."

The council spokesman said she was unable to confirm how many people – if any – had applied for the position, which is thought to command a six-figure salary.

Local authorities across the country have come under close scrutiny after the death of Baby Peter in north London in 2007.

An Ofsted report in October condemned Cornwall Council children's services as "inadequate".

Inspectors found failures in risk assessments, planning, record-keeping, social worker visits and inconsistency in providing services.

Senior managers in the department were branded "ineffective" for failing to support staff.

The council came bottom in a list of four possible gradings, ranging from Grade 1 outstanding to Grade 4 inadequate.

Grade 4 means the service does not meet minimum requirements.

The report read: "While front-line workers demonstrated a child-centred approach to their work, ineffective leadership and a lack of clarity as to how services should be delivered have led to unsatisfactory outcomes for children and young people."

Speaking at the time, chief executive Kevin Lavery said the problems were "deeply embedded" and apologised to those children who had been failed by the council.

The department has a staff of 2,350 and a budget of £430 million.

Last week, the council announced the appointment of an interim director of corporate support.

Michael Crich was appointed to the council on March 1 after current director Peter Lewis announced his resignation over a difference of opinion regarding Cornwall Council's future.

Mr Lewis was in charge of personnel and property issues but was thought to be concerned by some aspects of recent budget and business plans.

His resignation was announced within a week of a vote to increase council tax by 2.9 per cent.

He left his position on Thursday.