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The Children Act 2004 required every top-tier or unitary local authority in England to appoint a director of children's services (DCS) and to designate a lead member for children's services (LM).
The DCS is professionally accountable for the delivery of authorities' education and social-services functions for children, and any health functions for children delegated to the authority by an NHS body. The DCS, together with the LM, has a key role in driving the local children's trust arrangements and the provision of services for children and young people. The lead member exercises local political accountability for the same range of services as the director, and is expected to take a particular role in safeguarding.
The Act allows authorities flexibility over the organisational arrangements it makes below the DCS and LM. This enables authorities to have structures that meet local challenges and circumstances.
The appointed day is 1 January 2008, by when all local authorities must have a director of children's services and a lead member for children's services (and a director of Adult Social Services) in place. All authorities now have Children Act-compliant directors of children's services in place, or are in the process of recruiting one, and have designated a lead member.
Associated documents
Statutory Guidance on the Role and Responsibilities of the Director of Children's Services and the Lead Member for Children's Services
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Last updated on 30/04/2009
