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Children services

Who we are and why we exist? 

The directorate of children’s services is the part of the council with lead responsibility for services to children and young people. 

The directorate is focused on improving the outcomes for all children and young people in Dudley.  Our work is based on the framework within the Children’s Act 2004 and Every Child Matters – Change for Children incorporating the five key outcomes:

 

  • staying safe

  • being healthy

  • enjoying and achieving

  • making a positive contribution

  • achieve economic well-being

 

How we are organised?

The directorate is led by Mark Wyatt, director of children’s services. 

The directorate is structured around four divisions:

  • Children and families - assistant director, Pauline Sharratt

  • Education, play and learning - assistant director, Dave Perrett

  • Quality and partnership - assistant director, Ian McGuff
  • Transforming futures - assistant director, Jane Porter

 

What do we do? 

The directorate has statutory responsibility for leadership within and beyond the Council, to make changes in practice to improve outcomes for all children and young people.  The directorate must also listen to and involve children and young people and champion their interests across and beyond the Council.

The directorate of children’s services aims to deliver integrated services to children and young people.

Much of our work is undertaken in conjunction with a wide range of partners including other statutory agencies and the voluntary and private sector.

Partnership arrangements - how we link with other agencies 

The children and young people strategic partnership brings together key partners at director level, supported by a number of working groups.  The implementation group is responsible for making the partnership arrangements work in practice, the joint planning and commissioning group is responsible for developing planning arrangements, and for developing the commissioning of services.

Three age-related groups are responsible for developing services for children and young people aged 0-5, 5-13 and 13-19.

The key partnership document is the Dudley Children and Young People’s Plan 2007 to 2010.

Each partner has a shared responsibility for each outcome for every child.  The existing strategic partnership will shortly become a children’s trust.