Last original DCS to step down

Andrew Webb, who was director of social services in Stockport prior to becoming director of children's services (DCS) when the post was made statutory by the former Labour government as part of the Children Act 2004, said he has not made any plans but "hopes to stay active in the sector in some way".

"I won't be turning up as an interim director anywhere but would like to engage in the further development of the systems - and people - that support children in need and families that are struggling," Webb told CYP Now.

The former teacher and social worker began a career in local authority positions, mainly working with children and families, in 1976 and worked at Knowsley Council and Cheshire County Council before joining Stockport Council.

He was president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services in 2012/13.

An outspoken critic of Ofsted's inspection regime, last year he called on former Education Secretary Justine Greening to improve the way children's services are inspected, claiming the current system failed to aid improvement and was "phenomenally wasteful".

By 2017, Webb was one of only three original DCSs - Jane Portman at Bournemouth and Carolyn Godfrey at Wiltshire being the others - who had remained in place since at least July 2006.

However, Portman took a new post last summer and Godfrey retired in October.

During the time Webb held his role as DCS in Stockport, there were a total of 12 local authorities that employed seven or more different DCSs since 2007, including Somerset and Derby which had nine each.

"Since I decided last autumn that I would retire from the role of DCS I've been reflecting on the past and wondering about the future, and appreciating the present," Webb said.

"Over the past five years I have met - and observed in action - some of the most talented and committed practitioners in social work, teaching, health visiting and family support that I've ever seen.

"The future looks good in the hands of this cohort of young professionals, but I worry that the government's reckless approach to 'downsizing' local government will create conditions in which they will be unable to operate effectively."