Liverpool Council has confirmed its new director of children’s services after a scathing report into historic failures within the department.
Jenny Turnross has been named as the local authority’s new corporate director and will taken up her post in August. Ms Turnross joins the city from Birmingham Children’s Trust where she currently holds the role of director of practice.
Last month, a damning Ofsted report slammed the service provided by Liverpool Council as “inadequate” and cited “serious weaknesses” for children who need help or protection, leaving children “being harmed or at risk of harm.”
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Senior leaders failed to understand the level at which children’s services across Liverpool had declined with issues dating back five years not being addressed effectively. Prior to joining Birmingham Children’s Trust, Ms Turnross was inspector of social care at Ofsted.
The trust oversees the largest children’s services function in the UK and, under her stewardship, services moved from a 10-year-long Ofsted rating of inadequate to good. Ms Turnross is also the chair of the Local Family Justice Board, chair of the West Midlands Association for Directors of Children’s Services and a member of the early years, primary and secondary Head Teachers Forum.
The Cheshire resident was also a residential care worker, deputy homes manager and a social worker at Wigan Borough Council across 14 years. She is also familiar with other areas of the north west, moving from Wigan to Halton and Warrington Councils, before being appointed as assistant director at St Helens Borough Council.
Ms Turnross said: “I’m so happy to have been asked to join the team in Liverpool. I know that there are exciting plans already in the pipeline such as the family hubs and the move to the family safeguarding model, and I look forward to working on those as well as bringing fresh ideas to the city. Ever since I began working in social care I have maintained the view that children should be at the heart of all we do and this still drives me today.
“Liverpool is a great city and its children, young people and their families deserve a great service. I can’t wait to start making sure that that happens.”
Cllr Liz Parsons, Liverpool Council cabinet member for children’s social services, said: “Jenny has an incredible range of experience in children’s social care which will be invaluable to our teams in Liverpool. Her achievements in Birmingham show that she faces challenges head on and makes sure that she gets results for children and young people.
“We look forward to welcoming Jenny later this summer and moving forward with our plans for children’s social care.”
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