Comment: DCS Update 2024 report

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) today, Tuesday 30 April, publishes its annual directors of children’s services (DCS) update 2024, which draws on data from the Association’s membership year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

ADCS has gathered and recorded detailed information about changes in post-holders of the statutory DCS role since the Association was established in 2007. The update is also a record of the number of directors who hold both statutory roles of DCS and director of adult social services, referred to in this report as ‘twin hat’. This report offers some year-on-year comparisons, several of which date back to 2007, to highlight trends and patterns over time and patterns of change.

Andy Smith, ADCS President, said:

“In an ever-complex landscape, children’s services need consistent and stable leadership to deliver for the children and families that we serve. During 2023/24, 49 local authorities (LAs) experienced a change in DCS post-holder, this represents less than a third of LAs in total. Across the 49 LAs, there were a total of 62 changes in DCS postholder, this is amongst the highest level of annual changes since the role was established. However, due to the statutory nature of the role, there must always be a serving DCS in post, which can result in short-term interim posts prior to a permanent appointment.

“While the number of people coming into the DCS role for the first time has been relatively stable in 2023/24, the number of DCSs moving from one LA to another along with the number of interim appointments is well above previous averages. It is good to see succession planning bearing fruit, with most new permanent DCS appointments in the last membership year being filled by assistant directors. Similarly, most interim appointments were filled, in the main, by former substantive directors of children’s services or assistant directors. However, the role of DCS is both unique and challenging and we need to pay more attention to how we support current DCSs to ensure we retain valuable skills, expertise, and experience within the sector.

“There has been a continued decline in the number of LAs with ‘twin hat’ directors, as of 31 March, there were 13 such arrangements in place. It is for LAs to decide how best to design their local systems to meet the needs of the communities they serve but this is the lowest number since 2009 and the same as when ADCS was formed in 2007.

“Improving equality, diversity and inclusion within the Association, and across children’s services, is an ongoing priority in my presidential year. This is the second year we have collected data on the broader protected characteristics from our members. This latest data show that while the DCS cohort is still not as diverse as we want it to be, there was a slight increase in ethnic diversity amongst DCSs in 2023 compared to 2022, which is welcome. However, there is still more to do in terms of translating our words and commitment to improving diversity, in its widest sense, into actions that our workforce, and our communities, will recognise.

“We want the children and families we work with to see themselves reflected in the children’s services workforce, from the frontline right through to senior leaders. ADCS remains focussed on creating a more visibly inclusive and diverse Association. We are also working with others in the public sector to achieve the change we want and need to see across wider local government and beyond. Change cannot be achieved overnight but it is something we are committed to for the long haul.”

ENDS

The full DCS Update 2024 can be found here.

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