News

• More upheaval at Camden

Jane Held

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.