Tributes paid to 'passionate advocate for children' Dave Hill
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Tributes have been paid to Dave Hill, executive director of children at Surrey County Council, who has died suddenly at the age of 61.
Dave joined Surrey in 2018 after spending eight years transforming children’s services in Essex.
In a statement posted on the Surrey County Council website, chief executive, Joanna Killian, said Dave had been responsible for the “rapid and wholescale improvement” in children’s services there.
“Dave was an amazing colleague and great friend,” she said.
“At the heart of it he was just a great guy whose passion in life was his family – wife Jo, and daughters Laurel and Lydia whom he adored – and doing the very best he could for vulnerable children.
“My heart goes out to his family and to all his colleagues and staff who I know will be as devastated as I am that we have lost this amazing, talented man.
“His passion for doing the right thing by children and just getting things done shone through and he was the architect of the most brilliant transformation I have ever seen.
“He worked so hard and I know that his inspirational leadership, sheer energy and drive put us in the position we are today, with a service we can be proud of.
“Dave’s passion for justice and fairness also made him the natural choice to sponsor our renewed efforts towards equality, diversity and inclusion at the council. He would not tolerate discrimination of any kind and was determined we would be a better council.”
Colleagues and friends of Dave have been paying tribute on social media.
Andy Elvin, chief executive of Tact, said: “Dave was such a lovely man & a great colleague.”
That terrible news, Dave was such a lovely man & a great colleague https://t.co/8HY8CWJSpf
— Andy Elvin (@Millinerstale1) June 24, 2020
Marris Tratulis, national director for British Association of Social Workers England, added: “A great friend of BASW and a passionate advocate for children, young people and their families. Dave will be sorely missed.”
A great friend of BASW and a passionate advocate for children, young people and their families. Dave will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this sad time. @BASW_UK @AndyGill412 @AngieBartoli @ruthallenonline
— Maris Stratulis (@MarisMstratulis) June 24, 2020
Dave was president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services in 2015/16 and was awarded a Commander of the British Empire for services to children’s social care in 2018.
The ADCS tweeted that it was "devastated" to hear the news, describing Dave as a "kind, big-hearted and compassionate man".
We are absolutely devastated to hear the sad news about Dave Hill, a dear friend, colleague and former ADCS President. He was a kind and compassionate man with a big heart who made a huge difference to so many lives. Our thoughts are with his family. https://t.co/qzcJJVhlLJ
— 🌈Updates from ADCS (@ADCStweets) June 24, 2020
He was also director of children’s services in Merton from 2005-08 and Croydon from 2008-10, before joining Essex where he established one of the first social care academies achieved a "good" Ofsted rating for the children's services department.
In a statement on its website, Essex County Council said Dave had been instrumental in improving its children's services.
Leader of Surrey County Council, Tim Oliver, added: “I’m devastated to hear the news and all our thoughts at this time are with Dave’s family – his wife Jo and their two daughters.
“Dave was a tower of a man who was held both in respect and affection by those who worked with him at Surrey and across the whole of children’s services.
“He was thoughtful, inspirational, committed and self-deprecating. He will be irreplaceable.
“Dave will be much missed by all here at Surrey, and we will work tirelessly to ensure his legacy lives on in delivering the very best support for Surrey’s young people.”
Dave began his career working in children’s homes in the London Borough of Southwark in 1977 and trained as a social worker between 1981 and 1983, before working across five different London boroughs.
He was also a huge advocate of sector-led improvement, being appointed a commissioner to a number of struggling authorities including Norfolk and Birmingham.