Analysis

Director of children’s services role at 20: its evolution and next steps

6 mins read Children's Services Social Care
The director of children’s services role was created by the Children’s Act 2004 with the aim of harnessing the wider system in a local area to work for children and families. Five experts assess what it’s achieved
Directors of children's services bring leaders together to forge relationships across agencies. Picture: Micah C/Peopleimages.com/Adobestock

A strategic role and a champion of children

Andy Smith, DCS at Derby City Council since 2015 and president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services

The context that we operate is very different to 20 years ago, but the role still feels relevant today, probably more so. We still need that senior officer in a council that has a clear line of sight and brings the system together.

Where and how children are prioritised is really variable. That can lead to different types of provision for children across an area that can see children referred to social care where perhaps they wouldn’t need to be if there was a different offer. The levers in the system [for a DCS] to try and ensure that children get the right and fair deal at the right time – in the school and health space – is something we [ADCS] have been pushing.

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