Doncaster appoints partner to transform children’s services

Doncaster Council has appointed a new improvement partner to transform its children’s services. An Oftsted report last year found standards at the council were low and social workers were failing to manage risks to children properly.

The council has now appointed iMPOWER to work with the council in a £1.8m contract over two years. The new delivery model, one of only two in the UK, will see iMPOWER work alongside service users, practitioners and senior managers to develop the new approaches.

Council chief executive, Jo Miller, said: ‘We recognise the challenges that all councils face with their children’s services and we are set to lead the way in how these services can be delivered in the future. We plan to do something differently which will reform the service. We also intend to help establish a culture of learning across local authorities by sharing new best practice.

‘This new approach will benefit our staff and protect and enrich the lives of our young people.’

Eleanor Brazil, the council’s new director of children’s services, will start from the same date as part of the contract.