Rachael Wardell OBE, President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said:
“Racism in any form is completely unacceptable and has absolutely no place in society. ADCS is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion – values that are fundamental to everything we do in supporting children, young people, and families. These same principles extend to our workforce and those who care for our children. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued as they carry out their vital roles within the communities they serve.
“We are living through challenging and uncertain times, with rising reports of hate crime and racist incidents. Such acts not only harm our staff and carers but can also have devastating and lasting impacts on the children and families we work with.
“Local authorities’ children’s services bring together large, diverse, and deeply committed teams that reflect the local communities they serve. Every day, they work to improve the lives of children, young people and their families. It is essential that all those who dedicate themselves to this work can do so free from fear, discrimination, or harassment.
“ADCS will continue to stand against racism in all its forms and to champion fairness, inclusion, and respect in every aspect of our work.”
ENDS
The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) Ltd is the professional leadership association for Directors of Children's Services and their senior management teams in England.