A new organisation has taken control of Bradford Council's children's services department from today (Saturday 1st April).
Bradford Children and Families Trust has been created as part of efforts to 'stabilise, recover and improve' social care services for children in the district. It is an arm’s length limited company, which is owned by and accountable to the council, but operationally independent from it, with an experienced and independent board to support its work.
With effect from midnight this morning (1st April 2023) around 1,500 frontline and other social care and back-office staff transferred from the council to the Trust, with their pay, terms and conditions protected.
The Trust’s Chief Executive, Charlotte Ramsden, said: “I am honoured to become the new Trust’s first chief executive. It enables us to make a fresh start as a new organisation, with the clear vision for all children and young people in Bradford to be safe and able to realise their full potential.
“We’re bringing the mindset, dynamism and energy of a start-up together with the national expertise of the Trust’s senior leadership and the practical, frontline experience of our social care and wider staff teams in supporting children, young people and families in Bradford.
“We’ll build on improvements that have been made over the past 18 months under the current children’s services leadership as we address the priorities for improvement identified by Ofsted and the revised Children’s Services Improvement Plan.
“We won’t be making big changes overnight, as our first priority is to ensure that the organisational changes happening behind the scenes don’t disrupt our frontline services to children and families.
“Over time, we will work together on developing our services and practice and focusing on where things need to improve so that children and families have the services they need and deserve, by working constructively with the council and our many other partners, by building a permanent, professional workforce of committed, local social workers and by innovating and adapting best practice from around the country.”
Kersten England, Chief Executive of Bradford Council, said: “We welcome the establishment of the Trust and look forward to working with them to drive improvement for children in the Bradford district. We know that children’s social care services need to improve. It is why we took the decision in January last year, along with the Department for Education, to set up the Bradford Children and Families Trust.
“The Trust is a fresh start for the services dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable in our society – our children. But I also want to reassure all those families who depend on children’s social care that the services they receive today will continue.
“I want to thank all those who have worked incredibly hard to set up the Trust. I also want to thank all the staff who are transferring to the Trust for all their continuing dedication to the children of this district.
“The Trust will be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Council but also act independently of it. We will however work very closely together, and with our other partners, as we all strive to achieve our shared ambition of delivering the very best services possible to the children and families of our district. I, and everyone at the Council, look forward to forging this new working relationship with the Trust.”
VIDEO: Huge turnout for 2024 Ilkley Carnival
Greens win Bradford Council seats in Ilkley and Craven
Five Ilkley artists prepare to open their studios
Labour wins North Yorkshire Mayoral election by nearly 15,000 votes
Experience 'Zip The Cow' for Manorlands Hospice!
Kex Gill on course to open by end of June, say council
No Northern train services next Thursday due to strike
Developer's bid to change planning condition on Silsden housing estate raises concerns
Local young dancers chosen for production of Swan Lake
South Craven plans to join East Lancashire schools in new Trust
Council increases library fines for first time in a decade
A-list celebrities support Brownies Bookmark Project
Heat Pump & Solar Panel Open Day in Ilkley on Saturday
Armed Forces Brew Up to take place at Airedale Hospital
Friends of Ilkley Moor announces AGM
Lidl seeks new stores in Ilkley, Skipton and Keighley
Ilkley Civic Society raises concerns over proposals for Changing Places Toilet
Countdown to “spectacular” Mardi-Gras themed Ilkley Carnival begins!
Craven Museum shortlisted for major national award
Tributes paid to 14 year old killed at weekend in Keighley crash
