CYP Now - DCS changes at lowest level in a decade, analysis shows

Changes in leadership roles across England’s local authority children services departments was at its lowest in a decade over the last year, new research shows.

Charlotte Ramsden is director of people at Salford City Council

According to latest analysis by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), there were just 39 changes of director of children’s services (DCS) in 2020/21 across all 151 local authorities.

The changes took place across 34 councils, meaning that more than three-quarters of local authorities (77 per cent) have not experienced a change in DCS post holder across the reporting period.

The ADCS says this marks a “significant decrease” on previous years, adding that the 39 changes seen over the reporting period is "the fewest number of changes since 2011/12".

There were 57 changes in total in 2019/20 and 51 in 2018/19, it adds.

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