CYP Now - Interview: Chris Pratt, director of children's services, Doncaster Council

With its notoriously poor track record for child protection and a reputation for political infighting and instability, it is hardly surprising that Doncaster Council was without a permanent director of children's services for almost two years.

But in February this year, Chris Pratt left his job as director of children's services at Trafford and took the helm at the troubled authority.

"There are two main reasons I took the job," he explains. "One is the challenge. I was in Trafford for 12 years and I learned a lot. I was just excited about putting that learning into practice where major improvements were needed.

"The second reason is that I was born in Doncaster, so that was a big attraction for me, to some extent it is about coming back to my roots."

Pratt admits that he has a mountain to climb, since an Audit Commission report in April recommended that the government take over the running of the council.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included