Former Cheshire director of social services takes over as head of social care watchdog

A FORMER director of social services for Cheshire is to take over as head of England’s top independent health and social care watchdog.

Chester resident Dame Jo Williams is to take up the reins in January following the announcement that life peer Baroness Barbara Young is to step down from her post as chairman of the Care Quality Commission from February 1.

Dame Jo, the commission’s deputy chair and a former chief executive of Mencap, has agreed to act as chairman until a permanent successor is found.

The commission aims to make sure better care is provided for everyone in hospitals, care homes, their own homes, or elsewhere.

It replaced three other organisations, the Healthcare Commission, the Mental Health Act Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection, in April this year.

Lady Young has told ministers she believes she has pointed the commission in the right direction and has decided that others should take it forward.

Dame Jo said:“The board were sad to hear that Barbara has decided to move on, both on a professional and personal level.

“Barbara has played a major role in forging the commission’s strategy for the next five years.

“The board is fully signed up to take this strategy forward and our focus now is building on the momentum we have and delivering our important work on registration”.

A keen marathon runner while at County Hall, Dame Jo, a CBE and a deputy lieutenant for Cheshire, is also a former president of the Association of Directors of Social Services.

She has been a non executive member of the commission’s board since its inception in shadow form in October 2008.

Dame Jo served as director of social services in Cheshire and in Wigan Metropolitan Borough for 10 years.

She was chief executive of Mencap, the leading charity for people with a learning disability, from 2002 to 2008.

Throughout her career in local government she was a champion for social care services.

She is also co-chair of the Learning Disability Coalition and a member of bodies advising the government on the third sector, carers, learning disabilities and children’s services.

Other positions she holds include chair of the Prison Reform Trust and patron of Cruse Bereavement Care.