Paul Moffat named as Doncaster Children's Trust chief executive

Doncaster Council was told in 2013 it was to be stripped of children's services due to a "legacy of failure"

The first chief executive of a new children's trust tasked with turning around child protection services in Doncaster has been named.

Paul Moffat, 52, previously in charge of Northumberland County Council's children's services, will take up the role in June, the trust said.

Doncaster Council was told last year it was to be stripped of children's services due to a "legacy of failure".

Doncaster Children's Services Trust is due to become operational on 1 October.

Trust chair Colin Hilton said Mr Moffat had worked in local government for over 20 years and had also worked for the National Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children.

'Decisive break'

In March 2009, the government ordered a takeover of Doncaster's children's services following the deaths of seven children in the district through abuse or neglect over five years.

Less than a year later a serious case review found that attacks in the nearby town of Edlington in which two young boys were tortured by two brothers, aged 11 and 12, had been "preventable".

In July 2013 Education Secretary Michael Gove ruled an independent trust would run children's services in Doncaster.

A report said a "decisive break" was needed for Doncaster to move on.

The new trust will take over all children's social work and care operations while the council will retain responsibility for schools and education.