Tough task: Stuart Collins starts as Croydon’s head of children, young people and education in January
Stuart Collins – no, not that one – has been appointed as the council’s corporate director of children, young people and education, taking over from septugenarian Debbie Jones.
The job was advertised in August with a £175,000 per year salary. Collins is due to take up his post at the start of 2025, by which time the crucial Ofsted report on the borough’s children’s services should be in. The Ofsted inspection took place over two weeks last month, the first full inspection of the service in Croydon since 2020.
It was in 2017 when Ofsted inspectors discovered “widespread and serious failures” which “leave some children at risk of significant harm”. It took three years and £30million unbudgeted spending to get the council out of special measures. That additional spend is now widely seen as being a key point in the council’s spiral into bankruptcy.
Collins’ new role in Croydon, the council says, “incorporates the statutory director of children’s services”, and “is central to the council’s work to protect and support the borough’s children and young people”.
Collins is a qualified social worker who has 30 years of experience in local authority children’s services. He joins from Devon County Council, where he held a similarly senior position from May 2023, having previously worked at director level at Kent County Council.
Additional demands: Croydon is a ‘gateway’ authority as arrivals, including unaccompanied asylum children, report to Lunar House
Collins joined Kent in 2015, and in his time there took their children’s services from an Ofsted rating of “requires improvement”, to “good” in 2017, and to “outstanding” by 2022.
Working in Kent, with Dover as a major port of entry and the councils’ responsibilities for asylum seekers, Collins should have familiarity with some of the many demands on delivering for unaccompanied asylum seeking children encountered in Croydon, where the Home Office has an immigration centre at Lunar House.
Collins has also previously worked in London boroughs including Kingston, Camden, Barnet and Waltham Forest.
According to a press release issued by Croydon Council this afternoon, Collins said: “I’m delighted to be joining Croydon.
“I am passionate about leading children’s services to improve the life chances for children and young people. I look forward to sharing my experiences with Croydon colleagues, listening to and working with our social workers, schools, partners and local families.”
Different place: Debbie Jones
Jones, who provided “experienced and compassionate leadership” according to Mayor Jason Perry, will be leaving after four years, having initially arrived as an “interim” recruited on a pay rate of £800 per day.
Jones joined Croydon within days of the council issuing its first Section 114 notice, announcing it was effectively broke.
“When I joined Croydon it was in a very different place – the borough was managing the challenges of covid-19 and was right at the start of its journey to become financially sustainable,” Jones said today.
“Staff in children’s services and across the council, together with partners, have done a fantastic job in responding to these challenges and made huge strides in transforming children’s social care. I am proud that we have put Croydon’s children and young people at the heart of all we do.”
Read more: Damning verdict on Croydon’s ‘inadequate’ children’s service
Read more: Ofsted comes calling: will Kerswell’s council pass the tests?
Read more: Council’s controversial ‘interim’ children’s director set to leave
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