The moral imperative

By the time this blog will have been published, voting will be done, most counting undertaken, and many changes communicated. Followed, naturally, by the resultant commentary giving reflections and insights as to the outcomes, dependent of course upon the position of the individual being interviewed. I feel particularly privileged that for my last six years as director of children’s services to have worked with the same cabinet member, who has decided it’s the right time to retire after such dedication and commitment to children and young people. She will be missed!

It feels incongruous at times to be promoting the importance of consistency and stability in our workforce, and in children’s lives, whilst us all managing and leading services within such a constant maelstrom of change. Whether these be changes in the legal and policy landscape that inform our work, the level of resources available to us, or in the political governance that influences our approaches. However, within this there continues to be a clear imperative that, as leaders across our children’s services system, we are overt in those things we consider should be immutable, despite the changing context in which we operate.