Former Ofsted social care chief appointed DCS at Tower Hamlets
Neil Puffett
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Ofsted's former national director for social care Debbie Jones has been appointed as interim director of children's services (DCS) at Tower Hamlets Council.
The appointment of Jones, who left the inspectorate in May, follows a period of volatility for the east London local authority.
In April the council’s mayor Lutfur Rahman was removed from office after an election commissioner concluded that he breached election rules.
The following month it was announced that Alan Wood, a former president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, had been drafted in to Tower Hamlets Council as part of a team tasked with ensuring good governance until a new mayor and top team are put in place.
Wood will be in place until 31 October.
Stephen Halsey, director of communities, localities and culture, at Tower Hamlets, said: “I am looking forward to working with Debbie who will be a real asset to our children’s services team.
“She brings a wealth of experience to Tower Hamlets, and will I am sure be able to hit the ground running in this new role.”
Prior to her roles at Ofsted, Jones was DCS at Lambeth Council.
