Children's services directors are to be offered joint membership of the professional bodies for social care and education.
The Association of Directors of Social Services and the Association of Directors of Education and Children's Services (Adecs) have joined forces in response to the government's requirement that councils appoint a director with dual responsibility for education and children's social care.
The ADSS is expected to ratify the decision at its spring seminar in April, alongside moves to extend membership to chief executives of care trusts.
David Hawker, Adecs chair and director of children, families and schools at Brighton Council, said: "Every children's services director is going to have to learn one side of the business or the other. I think, as the leadership organisations on both sides, ADSS and Adecs, have got a huge amount to offer in terms of the up-skilling of directors of children's services."
He denied a merger was on the cards, but said a body specifically representing children's services directors was possible a few years down the line.
Children’s services
04 July 2008
Details of government consultations
21 August 2008
Private Member Bills
25 July 2008
Government Legislation
25 July 2008
