ADCS president pledges focus on improving diversity in children’s services

Making his inaugural speech as president during an event in central London today (16 April) Andy Smith, director of children’s and adult services at Derby City Council, said: “We need a diverse workforce if we are to understand and meet the needs of the communities we serve, however, this can’t be achieved in isolation and we are forming alliances right across the public sector to achieve the change that we want and need to see.”

“The principles of diversity, equity and inclusion are fundamental to all areas of our work and we are committed to highlighting, challenging and addressing issues of disproportionality, discrimination and systemic barriers that limit opportunity where they exist and we won’t stop there,” he added.

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Smith told ADCS members and invited guests that in order to improve diversity across the sector, he would first focus on “the Association and our membership” adding that “we’ve created new roles in the last 12 months that draws in the wider membership into the work of our Board and of the policy committees.”

According to latest ADCS data, as of 31 March 2023, 81% of DCS’s identified as white British; 5% as white Irish; 6% as ‘other’ white; 1% as black African; 1% as black Caribbean; 2% as white and black Caribbean; 2% as white and Asian.

Elsewhere in his speech, Smith added that he would also be taking forward many of the same priorities as his predecessor John Pearce, DCS at Durham County Council.

He highlighted issues including childhood poverty, social workers recruitment and retention and improving services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as key priorities in the coming year.

Smith warned that “the sector is in the midst of a placement sufficiency crisis”.

“To collectively tackle the crisis, we need government support on two fronts; a clear and properly resourced plan with short-, medium- and long-term actions which must include focusing on recruiting more local authority foster carers and taking a more transformational approach to kinship care,” he said.

Smith urged government to “address the unacceptable level of profiteering that has been allowed to go unchallenged within some parts of the system” including through large private placement providers and social worker agencies.

Addressing the upcoming general election, which must be held by the 28 January 2025, Smith said: “My sense is that there’s lots to feel optimistic about as we embark on what is guaranteed to be an interesting year and, irrespective of where we land post-election.”

Rachel Wardell, director of children, families and lifelong learning at Surrey County Council, has been named as ADCS vice-president for the coming year.