Julie Jones, who is currently deputy chief executive of the council, isdue to take up her new role in July. It is anticipated that Jones, whohas been president of the Association of Directors of Social Services,as well as chair of the Greater London Association of Directors ofSocial Services, will help develop the work that the institute does withchildren's services.
Allan Bowman, chair of the board at the institute, believes that Jones'sknowledge of the children's sector will be key to the organisation'sfuture.
"It's critical, particularly with the new directors and development ofchildren's services. It's important someone with a children's backgrounddeals with it."
The current chief executive, Bill Kilgallon, retires at the end of Marchand Bowman believes Jones will bring in fresh ideas. "Bill Kilgallon hasdone a brilliant job with all kinds of developments across the socialcare field. But it is time for someone with Julie's experience to comein," he said. "She's got a good record, she knows the area inside out'she's got tremendous networking abilities and will be able to take theinstitute forward over the next five years."
Jones's appointment has been endorsed by David Behan, director generalof social care at the Department of Health. He said: "Julie will bringthe qualities that she has demonstrated at Westminster City Council andthe Association of Directors of Social Services to the institute. She isan effective leader and I am confident that she will build on the firmfoundations established by her predecessor."
Jones is looking forward to the role. She said: "I started my socialservices career in research and have always been a great champion ofensuring that we make the most of research."
Jones believes her role with the Association of Directors of SocialServices and experience of both children's and adult's services willhelp her in the role. "It is important to remember that social carereally matters. Children live with their families and we work in thiscontext because of the difficulties that their parents are facing."
Jones has had a long career with Westminster City Council, where she hasworked for 25 years. In February, she had to deal with the case of afour-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who had suffered abuse at thehands of her parents (Children Now, 21-27 February).
In Jones's role as chair of the Westminster Local Safeguarding ChildrenBoard, which investigated the events surrounding that case, sheemphasised that the agencies involved could not have foreseen what wouldhappen to the little girl.
