New children’s services boss is revealed

CHESHIRE East Council is set to appoint Kath O’Dwyer as its new Director of Children’s Services and Deputy Chief Executive.

Kath is currently National Director for Social Care at Ofsted and previously headed up children’s services at Warrington Borough Council.

The Council’s staffing committee has unanimously recommended the appointment and it has the support of political group leaders, who have already consulted their members about it.

Full council will be asked for its formal endorsement in a vote on July 23.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Kath has an exceptional track record both at Ofsted and in local authorities.

“She improves performance while giving her colleagues real confidence in the quality of the services they provide.”

Meanwhile, council bosses have agreed that the role of executive director for strategic commis- sioning will become redundant. As a result, Lorraine Butcher will be leaving the council to seek new challenges.

She said: “After six years of working for Cheshire East Council, I have taken the decision that now is the right time to move on to seek new challenges in my career in pastures new.”