Held resigns in surprise move

Jane Held

Jane Held, director of social services at Camden Council, has
resigned unexpectedly.

Mystery surrounds the departure of Held, who joined the
department in 2001, but speculation has centred on the possibility
that the two-star rating for social services could have potentially
jeopardised the council’s “excellent”
comprehensive performance assessment score.

Camden councillor Flick Rea said: “It came as a bolt out of the
blue just before Xmas. It came as a shock and the lead social
services officer is distraught. She was very popular and highly
regarded. I can only assume it must be a personality clash.”

Held was also co-chairperson of the Association of Directors of
Social Services children and families committee, and a key player
in the drafting of the children’s green paper.

She set up and was a member of the inter-agency group working on
the green paper, and was celebrated for her ability to diffuse
tensions over the proposals for change contained in it.

Now, with the bill expected next month, the ADSS must swiftly
appoint a successor to take forward Held’s work and join
committee co-chairperson Penny Thompson.

Bob Litchfield, Camden’s assistant chief executive, has
been appointed as interim director of social services.