ADCS is a member-led organisation. Our strength and credibility is derived from the involvement and experience of members. We want to ensure the leadership voice of local authority children’s services departments and children's trusts is heard on the national stage.
Policy Networks (from 1 September 2025)
All members of ADCS are eligible, and are encouraged, to join and contribute to the work of our national Policy Networks. This is where we consider all aspects of children’s services policy and practice. These groups also lead on the development of consultation responses and submissions of evidence to inquiries as well as ADCS policy statements and position papers.
Each network will meet virtually on a termly basis, with each meeting lasting between 1.5 and 2 hours. Ad hoc meetings on emerging or urgent issues may also be held. Remits are as follows:
Inclusive Education looks at all aspects of education from the early years to FE, skills and training plus assessment, school improvement and standards plus related workforce and funding matters.
- Chair: Heather Sandy, DCS, Lincolnshire County Council
- Vice Chair: Jo Sullivan-Lyons, Strategic Lead for SEND and Inclusion Consultant, Barnet Council
- Staff support: Madeline Jackson, Policy and Press Officer.
Families, Communities & Young People covers safeguarding, youth work, youth justice, child poverty, family justice, preventative services and the early years plus workforce and funding issues related to these areas of policy.
- Chair: Helen Lincoln, DCS, Essex County Council
- Vice Chair, Jo Kavanagh, Assistant Director – Early Help, Lincolnshire County Council
- Staff support: Katy Block, Senior Policy Officer.
Health, Care & Commissioning looks at all forms of permanence, care leavers, asylum and migration, the health and wellbeing of children and families plus workforce and funding issues related to these areas of policy.
- Chair: Dheeraj Chibber, DCS, Luton Council
- Vice Chair, Richard Selwyn, Service Director Children's Commissioning, Somerset Council
- Staff support: Maeve Tierney, Policy Officer.
Regional Improvement & Inspection covers the breadth of inspection activity, Regional Improvement and Innovation Alliances, intervention, data and performance management.
- Chair: Jo Fisher, DCS, Hertfordshire County Council
- Vice Chair: Tania Townsend, Head of Strategic Programmes and Strategy, Islington Council
- Staff support: Katy Block, Senior Policy Officer.
We’re particularly keen to diversify and strengthen regional representation on our national groups so that our engagements with government, and others, accurately reflects what is happening in local areas as they develop new policies and guidance, for example. If you would like to find out more about a specific group, please get in touch with the relevant ADCS policy officer directly
Did You Know…?
The Association provides a collective voice for those leading local authority children’s services, offers practical and professional advice to policymakers highlighting the reality of implementing new initiatives and provides a national forum for developing policy ideas. It is a company limited by guarantee.
How Do We Do It?
- By working with ministers, senior civil servants, the inspectorates, Local Government Association, Solace, ADASS, the community and voluntary sectors and other key national partners to ensure that the voice of professionals in children’s services is heard loud and clear.
- By giving evidence to select committees, inquiries and reviews and by responding to formal consultations.
- By being represented on over 100 external national working and expert reference groups.
- By voicing the perspectives of our members in the trade and in the national press and through policy position statements and papers.
Stand for Election
Any Ordinary Member can stand to be an Elected Director on the ADCS Board of Directors or as a Vice Chair of a policy network.
All DCSs are eligible to stand for election as Vice President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer or Chair of a policy network.