Interview: Kevin Gallagher, business development director, Continuum Group

There are likely to be opportunities aplenty as he moves to one of the largest independent providers of children's care at an increasingly testing period for the residential sector. But, he says, with "a new government, policy changes and the backdrop of the economic climate, it's a great opportunity."

Gallagher's experience on the advisory panel for Therapeutic Service Standards, and as chair of The Charterhouse Group — which represents organisations working in specialist therapeutic childcare — gives him an appreciation for the importance of working in partnership to develop and improve services for children and young people in care on a local, regional and national scale. He believes communication and co-operation between those different bodies is essential. "In terms of the government agenda, both sufficiency and efficiency are absolutely possible if there is a mature dialogue between local authorities and providers," he says. "There are ways of smarter commissioning, more effective contracting and working over geographical and discipline boundaries."