TAMESIDE Council has appointed a known troubleshooter to lead its ‘inadequate’ children’s services department.
Jill Colbert OBE will take the director’s job after a scathing commissioner’s report highlighted a ‘toxic and bullying’ culture.
Having already led Sunderland’s from an Ofsted rating of inadequate to outstanding in the space of three years, she will join early next year from Nottingham City Council.
And she cannot wait to spearhead the turnaround in the area, saying: “I’m delighted to be appointed to the role in Tameside at such an exciting time in the council’s improvement journey.
“I know there is a huge collective will to do better for children and families and that I’m joining at a time when that commitment has never been stronger.
“I’m really excited to have been chosen to be part of the team and to represent the council’s dedication to do better and I can’t wait to start in post.”
Having worked as the director of adult and children’s services at Trafford Council, as well as leading integrated health and care services for children and adults, the new person in charge is not exactly a stranger to the area.
She was also, for a brief spell, interim chief executive at the authority on the other side of Manchester.
And she was awarded an OBE for services to children in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Birthday honours list.
Ms Colbert’s appointment brings the senior team of leaders responsible for delivering required improvements identified by Ofsted and the Children’s Commissioner up to four.
Council leader, Cllr Eleanor Wills, executive member for children and families, Cllr Teresa Smith, and interim chief executive Harry Catherall make that up.
Cllr Wills said: “Jill shone out among the many outstanding candidates we interviewed and I’m delighted to welcome her to our team.
“Children in Tameside are our absolute priority and Jill will bring further stability, expertise and commitment to our team to help drive improvements and provide our children and families with the service they deserve.”
Cllr Smith added: “This is an excellent appointment and important milestone in our improvement journey.
“We undertook a rigorous and comprehensive recruitment process, working closely with partners, stakeholders, our workforce and an interview panel involving our children and young people.
“We had some excellent candidates to consider and the contribution of the various panel members was extremely helpful, enabling us to come to a very confident decision in appointing Jill.
“I’m really excited about welcoming Jill to Tameside and working with her and our wider leadership team and our hard working and dedicated workforce to bring about the changes we need to strive for excellence and do our very best for our children.
“Jill brings with her lots of directly relevant experience and learning which I know will be really valuable to us.”
Tameside’s interim director of children’s services, Dr Catherine Driscoll, will continue in her role and lead on the improvement action plan until Ms Colbert starts.
Her appointment will be formally announced at the full council meeting on Tuesday, December 3.