New boss for children’s services after tragedies
THE new organisation set up to turn around Birmingham City Council’s persistently failing child protection services has appointed its first chief executive.
Andy Couldrick, a former chief executive for Wokingham Borough Council, has been appointed to run the Birmingham Children’s Trust.
The organisation was launched last year to run children’s social care services, which have been rated as ‘inadequate’ since 2009. It will run the trust at arm’s length from the city council.
The tragic deaths of children in its care, including Khyra Ishaq, Keanu Williams and Keegan Downer made national headlines while the service continued to struggle despite a series of leadership changes and various restructuring plans.
Mr Couldrick’s appointment was backed by the Department for Education and Birmingham Children’s Commissioner. He has much experience within children’s social care, having previously worked as head of children’s social care at Oxfordshire County Council before moving on to Wokingham Borough Council in 2011, firstly as director of children’s services before a promotion to chief executive of the same authority.
Mr Couldrick said: “I am delighted to become the first chief executive of Birmingham Children’s Trust. This is a great opportunity to build on and support the fantastic work being done every day by social workers and our partners in the city, supporting and safeguarding our most vulnerable children.
“As a social worker myself, I know how challenging and how rewarding what we do is, and how we have the opportunity, together, to change lives. Anything I and the new trust can do, to make these challenges easier, to help improve how we work together, and to keep hold of the strong relationship with the city council, will be a pleasure as well as a privilege. I can’t wait to start.”
Mr Couldrick will be overseen by the trust’s chairman Andrew Christie.
He said: “It’s crucial the new trust gets off to a flying start with strong and experienced leadership. Andy will bring the experience, insight and know-how that we need to ensure we achieve the best possible outcomes for the city’s young people and families.”
The shadow Birmingham Children’s Trust is now operational and is due to take full control of services from April 2018.