International Federation of Social Workers president David N Jones has taken a temporary role at Ofsted pending a wholesale restructure of the inspectorate.
Jones is one of three new deputy directors in Ofsted's children's directorate who will stay in post until the end of August 2009, before the introduction of the new structure in September.
The children's directorate has responsibility for the inspection and regulation of early years and social care, with Jones taking on responsibility for the latter.
Jones, a former general secretary of the British Association of Social Workers, has a background in inspection having previously worked for the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
His appointment follows the departure of Ofsted's children's director Michael Hart. Ofsted's deputy director for education, Roger Shippam, has taken temporary charge of the directorate, however the role will not exist in the new structure.
Instead, Ofsted will appoint a director, inspection development (social care), who will take responsibility for developing inspection policy and frameworks for the sector, and a national director, inspection delivery, who will be responsible for delivering inspections.
Related articles
Expert guide to social care inspection and regulation
BASW conference: EU urged to regulate social workers