News

• Crisis in Cardiff deepens as minister and council fall out
• Six months to rescue Cardiff and launch a new era in social services
• Cardiff faces new inspection after damning joint review

A new high profile director has been appointed to head up Cardiff social services in the wake of last year’s damning joint review, writes Alex Dobson.

The appointment of Chris Davies, former social services director in Somerset, is being hailed as a milestone in the fight to upgrade the department.

Following the joint review, the council was castigated for its failings and was placed in the bottom three worst performing councils in England and Wales.

Davies, who is also a former president of the Association of Directors of Social Services, is expected to be paid around £100,000 a year for his new role as group director for social care and health, with a brief to establish and maintain strong and effective partnerships, both internally and externally.

“I am sure it won’t be easy. But with openness and honesty, willingness to work together, and always remembering that we are here to meet the needs of people who are frail, vulnerable or in trouble, we can achieve a lot,” he said.

Cardiff council chief executive Byron Davies said that the joint review had highlighted an urgent need to improve social care provision in Cardiff.  He added that a comprehensive remedial plan had already been developed and the new appointment was key to providing leadership and inspiration.