The new children's services chief is optimistic the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will improve outcomes for young people and anticipates her term to focus on special educational needs provision
At her inauguration as president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) for 2025/26, Rachael Wardell spoke movingly of Dave Hill, her predecessor from a decade earlier who died suddenly in 2020. In her speech she reflected on how she had followed in Hill's footsteps in several ways: as director of children's services (DCS) at Surrey County Council, a trustee at charity Become, and former chair of the ADCS workforce development committee – all roles previously held by Hill.
“Dave helped to lay the foundations for many, not just me, to thrive,” she said in reference to how Hill had passionately argued for “love” to be part of the everyday language of the care system.
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