New children's services boss appointed to turn around Tameside's failing regime

The newly-appointed director of children’s services for Tameside has vowed to do better for kids and families.

Jill Colbert OBE has been named as the new permanent director of children’s services (DCS) for Tameside council having previously led Sunderland children’s services from ‘inadequate’ to ‘outstanding’. Tameside children’s services was rated ‘inadequate’ in December 2023, the second inadequate judgement within a five-year period.

A commissioner report recently slammed a regime failing vulnerable children. The fallout led to the departure of several senior figures at the council, including former council leader Coun Ged Cooney and ex-chief executive Sandra Stewart.

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Now Jill Colbert has the task of turning around the fortunes of the department that the council has struggled to get right for more than a decade. Ms Colbert was previously in charge of Trafford council’s adult and children's services, now she’s returning to Greater Manchester after six years in Sunderland.

She said: “I’m delighted to be appointed to the role in Tameside at such an exciting time in the council’s improvement journey. I know there is a huge collective will to do better for children and families and that I’m joining at a time when that commitment has never been stronger.

“I’m really excited to have been chosen to be part of the team and to represent the council’s dedication to do better and I can’t wait to start in post.”

She will join Tameside early in the new year, with interim DCS Dr Catherine Driscoll continuing in her role and leading on the improvement action plan until then. The council hopes the permanent appointment brings further stability to the service identified as a key starting point by Ofsted and the Children’s Commissioner Andy Couldrick.

Tameside’s council leader Coun Eleanor Wills said: “Jill shone out among the many outstanding candidates we interviewed and I’m delighted to welcome her to our team.

“Children in Tameside are our absolute priority and Jill will bring further stability, expertise and commitment to our team to help drive improvements and provide our children and families with the service they deserve.”

Ms Colbert started her career as a Youth Justice Social Worker in Birmingham City Council where she had studied as an undergraduate. She went on to work in targeted community health services with sexually exploited young people, which led her into a national children’s charity.

Returning at a later point in her career to work in local government in Merseyside and Greater Manchester, initially in children’s commissioning, Jill was the director of adult and children’s services in Trafford Council, as well as leading integrated health and care services for children and adults.

She has also been awarded an OBE for services to children in the Queens Platinum Jubilee honours list.