This year, with heightened concerns over safeguarding children and councils preparing to take responsibility for post-16 education and training, the pressures on DCSs will only increase (see p9). Sharon Shoesmith's sacking last month by Haringey Council thrust the role into the public eye as never before, and in the most dreadful circumstances.
But the job, we must hope, is not impossible. The essence of the role is team leadership. Incumbents from all backgrounds - social care, education, and others - should be equally able to succeed. DCSs require a range of skills that stretches them beyond their previous professional experience. So it is ridiculous, for example, to suggest that all DCSs need a social work background. What they need is to understand the nature of social work constraints and difficulties.
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