Barnsley DCS Rachel Dickinson to step down
Fiona Simpson
Monday, February 24, 2020
The director of children’s services (DCS) at Barnsley Council will retire next month.
Rachel Dickinson was appointed to the position in June 2013 following four years as DCS at Leicester City Council.
She announced she would be leaving the role on Twitter saying: “Overwhelmed by the messages of thanks and good wishes from Barnsley’s children’s services today making a lasting memory.
“I can only respond once again with a heartfelt thank you to the service that I have been so proud to lead and am so proud of.”
Overwhelmed by the messages of thanks and good wishes from Barnsley’s Children’s Services today making a lasting memory. I can only respond once again with a heartfelt thank you to the service that I have been so proud to lead & am so proud of 🙏 #barnsleyisbrill pic.twitter.com/SUeDvXkbkb
— Rachel Dickinson (@RachelDicknson1) February 21, 2020
She added that she would be leaving the role in April.
A council spokesperson confirmed Dickinson is “retiring as executive director of children's services at Barnsley Council”.
Mel John-Ross, director of children’s social care and safeguarding at Barnsley, will replace Dickinson, the council said.
Dickinson is president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services for 2019/20. She is set to step down from the role at the end of her tenure in April and will be replaced by vice-president Jenny Coles, director of children’s services for Hertfordshire County Council.
