Director general for children appointed

Tom Jeffrey has been appointed as the first director general for
children and families at the Department for Education and
Skills.

Jeffrey, a civil servant who has worked in the DfES for more than
20 years, will lead the new directorate that was created when
responsibilities for children and families were transferred to the
department in June.

He will be responsible for advising education secretary Charles
Clarke and minister for children Margaret Hodge. He will also play
a key role in implementing the proposals put forward in the
children’s green paper.

During his time at DfES, Jeffrey led work on behaviour and
attendance at school, special educational needs, and extended
schools. He has also been involved in cross-government projects,
including Sure Start. He was also director of children’s services
at the Department of Health between 1998 and 2000.

The Association of Directors of Social Services welcomed his
appointment.