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Interview: ADCS president John Pearce

6 mins read Children's Services Interview
Fiona Simpson speaks to new ADCS president John Pearce about his priorities.
John Pearce on children’s mental health services: ‘It’s now essential we continue to push for a full national review’
John Pearce on children’s mental health services: ‘It’s now essential we continue to push for a full national review’

Durham's director of children's services John Pearce steps into the role of president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) in a year marked by the publication of the government's response to the Independent Review of Children's Social Care and its special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision (AP) improvement plan.

Pearce says his predecessor Steve Crocker, former director of children's services for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Councils, has left him with “very big shoes to fill”.

However, in his first month as president, after officially taking on the role on 1 April, Pearce has already called out the Home Office over plans to take on corporate responsibility for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children as part of its Illegal Migration Bill and urged ministers to launch a full review of children's mental health services.

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