New head appointed to run failing children's services department

A former social worker honoured for her contributions to youngsters has been appointed as the permanent director of children’s services at Tameside Council.

Jill Colbert OBE, who is expected to join Tameside early in the new year, led Sunderland Children’s Services from Inadequate to Outstanding. 

Jill started her career as a Youth Justice Social Worker in Birmingham City Council where she had studied as an undergraduate.  

She went on to work in targeted community health services with sexually exploited young people, which led her into a national children’s charity.  

Returning at a later point in her career to work in local government in Merseyside and Greater Manchester, initially in children’s commissioning, Jill was the Director of Adult and Children’s Services in Trafford Council, as well as leading integrated health and care services for children and adults.  

Jill is returning to the Greater Manchester area from Sunderland, where she ran children’s services for six years. She was awarded an OBE for services to children in the Queens Platinum Jubilee honours list.  

She has enjoyed a brief period as the Corporate Director in Nottingham City Council, where she will join Tameside from.  

The permanent appointment brings further stability to the service and the senior team of leaders responsible for delivering required improvements identified by Ofsted and the Children’s Commissioner:

• Executive Leader of Tameside Council – Cllr Eleanor Wills 
• Executive Member for Children and Families - Cllr Teresa Smith. 
• Interim Chief Executive - Harry Catherall
• Director of Children’s Services – Jill Colbert

They have a shared commitment to delivering the substantial and sustainable improvements required at the authority and have the full support and commitment of the council’s Executive Cabinet, the wider leadership team and workforce.

Executive Leader Cllr Eleanor 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.”

Executive Member for Children’s Services Cllr Teresa Smith said: “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.”

Jill Colbert said: “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.”

Tameside’s Interim Director of Children’s Services Dr Catherine Driscoll will continue in her role and leading on the improvement action plan until Jill starts in her new position.

The appointment will be formerly announced at the Full Council meeting on Tuesday, December 3.