Leeds' DCS Steve Walker steps down

Steve Walker had been Leeds DCS since October 2016, over which time the children's services department rose from an overall "good" to "outstanding" Ofsted rating.

Walker, a former Glasgow social worker and previously deputy director in Leeds, has moved to become the authority's new project director for the national Strengthening Families programme.

He has been succeeded by Saleem Tariq as interim director of children and families in Leeds.

During Walker's tenure, the department has developed an expertise in relationship-based practice and family group conferencing. In 2017, it was awarded "Partners in Practice" status by the Department for Education (DfE) so that it could share its expertise with other authorities.

Last year, the Leeds Family Valued approach was named as one of three initiatives to be rolled out more widely as part of the DfE's £84m Strengthening Families, Protecting Children programme. It focuses on working ‘with’ families rather than doing things ‘to’ them, with existing strengths and relationships in the wider family network used to support continuity of familial relationships.

• Local Spotlight: Leeds City Council

Walker's new role will involve overseeing the rolling out of Family Valued and other improvement work it has developed.

Announcing the move on social media, Walker said: "Very difficult decision to step down. It was an honour to be DCS for Leeds and a privilege to work with such fantastic staff and partners who put children at the heart of the city."

Very difficult decision to step down. It was an honour to be DCS for Leeds and a privilege to work with such fantastic staff and partners who put children at the heart of the city. ⁦@SaleemTariq⁩ will do a great job and pleased to be spreading our learning in my new role. pic.twitter.com/eeJwX7piN6

— Stephen Walker (@SteveWLeeds) February 4, 2020

Children's services leaders were quick to congratulate him.

Rachel Dickinson, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services and DCS in Barnsley, said: "Thank you for your contribution beyond Leeds into our great region of Yorkshire and Humber and beyond the region too. We will miss your challenge and your ‘spark’."

Tariq was deputy director for children and families and has worked at Leeds City Council for 25 years. He was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours.

Tariq said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as interim director following Steve’s departure to head up the Leeds ‘Strengthening Families Protecting Children’ project.

“Services for children and families in Leeds are in a good place, but we are not complacent and know that there is more to do if we are to make Leeds a truly child friendly city for all its children and young people.

“As a council we remain committed to this ambition and of ensuring that vulnerable children and young people get the support they need to be able to thrive and reach their potential.

“A key focus for us now is to build on the positive outcomes that working restoratively with children and families has achieved by continuing to develop and expand our early help offer, as evidence shows that early intervention in the life of a family’s problems can have a positive impact on children’s futures.”