Nationally Significant Infrastructure Planning Policy and Reform; Environmental Assessment, Waste and Minerals Planning, Developer Contributions

Leading civil servants and professional planners in work across government, including:- Community Infrastructure Levy & S.106- Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime- Planning reform to support national infrastructure priorities

Temporarily leading the Social Housing Directorate during the COVID crisis; two Deputy Directors working collaboratively to cover the leadership gap left by colleagues redeployed to other aspects of Covid response during the national emergency

A series of high profile, cross-cutting and politically sensitive leadership roles: Youth strategy project – Developing youth strategy; working with DCMS and Big Lottery to develop a £90m programme to support transition to work for young people facing disadvantage or mental health challenges, to be designed with young people, business, VCSE sector and local areas. Project Director, Social Work England Implementation – The new regulator, at arm’s length from Government, will… Show more A series of high profile, cross-cutting and politically sensitive leadership roles: Youth strategy project – Developing youth strategy; working with DCMS and Big Lottery to develop a £90m programme to support transition to work for young people facing disadvantage or mental health challenges, to be designed with young people, business, VCSE sector and local areas. Project Director, Social Work England Implementation – The new regulator, at arm’s length from Government, will bring higher standards and greater confidence to the Social Work profession.Specialist SEND Provision (internal review for Directors General) – Made recommendations about high needs funding, Special Schools and mainstream provision, and challenges relating to local commissioning and academisation. Deputy Director for Legislation – Led urgent work to turn manifesto commitments into the Childcare and Education and Adoption Bills, both introduced within weeks of the 2015 Election. Secured their passage by managing significant parliamentary scrutiny and conflicting government priorities, and quickly developing two high performing teams. The legislation enabled introduction of 30 hours free childcare, intervention in ‘coasting’ schools and reforms to the adoption system. Deputy Director for Children’s Services Strategy – Oversaw £25m voluntary sector grants programme, incentivising improved delivery and efficiency from organisations delivering support for children, while reducing the overall spending commitment. Managed 35 staff undertaking projects across children’s service strategy (and local government funding), analysis and corporate support/change. Show less

Children and Families Act, 2014 – Bill Manager. Led more than 200 civil servants, across five Government Departments, to develop legislation and steer it through Parliamentary scrutiny. Delivered a robust reforming legislation on children’s rights and welfare issues including major SEN reforms, universal free school meals and tobacco control.Industrial Relations – 2011 public sector strikes. Implemented new systems, at pace, to enable Ministers to predict the impact of strikes on the… Show more Children and Families Act, 2014 – Bill Manager. Led more than 200 civil servants, across five Government Departments, to develop legislation and steer it through Parliamentary scrutiny. Delivered a robust reforming legislation on children’s rights and welfare issues including major SEN reforms, universal free school meals and tobacco control.Industrial Relations – 2011 public sector strikes. Implemented new systems, at pace, to enable Ministers to predict the impact of strikes on the education system and wider public sector. Used this evidence to inform a communication strategy which mitigated impact on parents and children, thus protecting the Government’s reputation and its position in the dispute with the unions. Workforce policy & funding - 2010 Spending Review. Secured policy decisions and significant savings across c£500m budget from school, social care and childcare workforce programmes and Arms Length bodies. Social Work Task Force – Building a Safe and Confident Future (published Dec. 2009). Lead policy official supporting the Social Work Task Force set up in response to the death of Baby Peter Connelly. Managed regional consultation and evidence review. Drafted the Task Force’s final report. Its recommendations came together to set out a comprehensive vision and delivery plan for social work reform. They were accepted by Government Ministers and welcomed by both the profession and its critics. Workforce policy & funding – 2020 Children’s Workforce Strategy (published Nov. 2008). Secretary to expert group and drafter of Government white paper setting out ambitious plans for raising the status and quality of the ‘children’s workforce’ across education, social care and childcare. Show less

Worked with social work managers, head teachers, youth and specialist CAMHS services to implement the Common Assessment Framework and the ContactPoint children’s database system. Secondment extended by Director of Children’s Services to lead work to develop the vision and brand for the Children’s Trust, improving relationships, shared identity and communication between local authority services and schools.