New Chair of Doncaster’s Children’s Services named

The Chair of Doncaster’s new Children’s Services Trust has been named as Colin Hilton CBE.

The Trust will take responsibility for delivery of Doncaster’s children’s social care services this year, operating in shadow form from 1 April 2014.

It will provide a new model for the delivery of children’s social care services in England.
The role of the chair will be to establish a board with the necessary skills and vision to drive service improvements through a new company, which will deliver children’s social care services on behalf of Doncaster Council.

Colin Hilton brings with him extensive experience in local government. He enjoyed a successful 10 year career in teaching before becoming Director of Education and Leisure Services at St. Helens Council and then Director of Children’s Services at Liverpool City Council.

At Liverpool Colin turned around an education service that was subject to government intervention.

As Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council Colin introduced innovations and improvements that saw Liverpool emerge as the most improved council in the country.

More recently, Colin was Director of Children’s Services Self-improvement at the national Children’s Improvement Board.

Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster said, “I welcome Colin’s appointment as the Chair of our new Children’s Trust. Colin is an experienced Chief Executive as well as a former Director of Children’s Services so thoroughly understands the issues involved in these important areas. I have stated since I became Mayor that protecting our vulnerable children was a top priority and we are determined that Doncaster’s Children’s Trust, operating as an arm’s length organisation as opposed to a standalone entity as we wanted, is an effective organisation. Colin’s experience will play a large part in achieving this and I welcome him to the borough.”

Jo Miller, Chief Executive of Doncaster Council said, “The appointment of a chair of the Trust is a crucial milestone for us and will ensure that the creation moves forward rapidly. Having someone at the helm who can work in partnership with us to deliver this is critical. Colin is exactly the sort of person that we would have chosen to take the trust forward and I believe that with his background and knowledge he will achieve this.”