Sandwell MBC has asked The MJ to clarify the nature of the improvement notice issued to its children's services department. In response to the story ‘Services taken over' [25 March] we make clear the department is not being taken over. The council will be establishing an improvement board with an independent chair which will approve an improvement plan drawn up by the council. The Department for Children, Schools and Families will work with the council to identify and access support to address areas of weakness in their safeguarding services.