The Association of Directors of Children's Services' (ADCS) proposals, revealed to CYP Now, would see local authorities sharing skills and expertise in order to deliver Lord Laming's safeguarding recommendations.
The honorary inspectors, or "peer inspectors" as the ADCS calls them, would assist Ofsted on inspections to help it get under the skin of frontline practice. Directors from successful authorities would offer advice and guidance to poorer performing councils between scheduled inspections as an alternative to government intervention.
The ADCS also wants directors or senior managers to chair neighbouring councils' local safeguarding children boards (LSCB).
In his report last month, Laming said no director should chair their own LSCB, but councils were concerned that few people possess the experience to do the job. Swapping directors of nearby authorities would mean that all LSCB chairs are suitably qualified and independent.
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