Davies to lead efforts to turn Cardiff around

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.