Blog News List
Should we be worried about...
There has been some recent national media coverage about local authorities using ‘algorithms’ to predict the likelihood of a child being...
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Evidencing safeguarding pressures
I continue to be amazed by the extraordinary efforts of the staff working in local authorities to support their towns, cities and communities. As...
Read More Could’ve, should’ve,...
One of the privileges that come with being the ADCS President is that you get to represent the Association at a range of interesting events. Last...
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Diversity matters
Directors of children’s services (DCSs) are all kinds of different characters, but if you’re at all like me, one of the things you’ll...
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Children’s Funding – It’s...
By September, budget planning is well underway in local authorities and I imagine many of us are having similar experiences contemplating...
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An inspired corporate parent
Brave, brave, brave! This was the word bounding around my head as I sat beside three care experienced young people during a public meeting of the...
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Growing into the role
It was just about two years ago that I took up the role of Director of Children’s Services (DCS) at Staffordshire County Council. This was not...
Read More When fact is stranger than fiction
Returning home from my summer break was one of those occasions when fact was stranger than fiction. On the flight, one of the films on offer was...
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Let's talk about local government...
It’s the summer holidays yet negotiations are already underway in Nottingham to identify the next round of ‘savings’ required for the...
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