New leadership team for children’s services

THE recruitment of a new social care leadership team for the Council’s children’s services has “groundbreaking potential” according to a leading Councillor in North East Lincolnshire.

Ann-Marie Matson, Director of Children’s Services, joined the Council last December.

Since then, a number of new Service Directors and Deputy Service Directors have been recruited by the local authority, joining Ann-Marie’s social care senior team.

Ten new senior leaders were introduced to staff at an event last week, covering everything from Family Help and Protection, Children in Care, Care Leavers, Fostering and Adoption and Quality Assurance and Evaluation.

The new team:

Ann-Marie Matson, Director for children’s services

Charlene Sykes, Service Director for Safeguarding and Early Help

Paul Cowling, Service Director for Regulatory Provision

Queenie Carrie, Deputy Service Director for Regulatory Provision

Emma Young, Deputy Service Director for Youth Justice and Early Help

Harriett Malkin, Deputy Service Director for CAS and Children with Disability

Samantha Colley, Deputy Service Director for IFD and Children’s Assessment and Safeguarding

Ben Dent, Deputy Service Director for Children in Care and Care Leavers

Nikki Alcock, Deputy Service Director for Practice, Standards and Principle Social Worker

Julie Poole, Head of Service Practice, Performance and Quality Assurance

The new team gives the Council’s children’s service some much-needed stability, according to portfolio holder for children and education, Councillor Margaret Cracknell.

“Having a permanent leadership team in children’s services, and particularly in children’s social care, is something that we haven’t had for some time, so this has groundbreaking potential for the service.

“Ann-Marie and her team bring with them some tremendous experience and I’m optimistic that they will bring with them the skills to really progress our vision for the support that children and families will receive in North East Lincolnshire.”

If you’re interested in joining our team, we’re hiring now to a range of new Practice Supervisor and Service Lead roles across Children’s Social Work. Closing date 10 March 2024.

Practice Supervisors Social Work – find out more at https://bit.ly/3SFDsF2

Service Leads Social Work – apply now at https://bit.ly/3OGExve

We’re also recruiting Social Workers at all levels of experience. Apply now at https://bit.ly/3tXn2jf.