Staff shake-up as child services need improvement

Staffordshire County Council will appoint two senior officers to its children's services

A local authority is set to appoint two new senior officers as part of a shake-up aimed at turning around the poor performance of its children's services.

Staffordshire County Council carried out a restructure of its children and families directorate, which it said would create a "culture of practice excellence" to improve outcomes for children and young people.

It comes after its children's services received a "requires improvement" rating following an Ofsted inspection in 2023.

The new posts have been allocated a salary of between £95,083 and £99,735 as well as a car allowance and market supplement, meaning a total value of up to £114,130.

The post of assistant director for family safeguarding would come with responsibility for revising the council's approach to multi-agency safeguarding hubs and strengthening the service's operating model.

An assistant director for early intervention and prevention would "support the culture change and organisational remodel required to improve children and family services" and ensure the council met new policy requirements.

Councillor Nick Lakin, cabinet member for children and young people at the Reform UK-controlled council, said it realised the service needed more support.

"We promised we would do what was necessary to move in the right direction, including additional money for management and oversight of workloads and decision-making," he said.

"The most recent Ofsted inspection praised provision for the children and young people in our care and also identified what we could do better.

"Our front-line staff are excellent; doing complex work in difficult circumstances and making a difference on a daily basis."

Earlier this year the council appointed a new deputy director of children and families, and an assistant director for children in care and care leavers, as part of its restructuring process.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.