North East ADCS is the regional Association of Directors of Children’s Services for the twelve local authorities across the North East. We work together through a structure of regional networks to support those in children’s services leadership roles by providing a space to collaborate, benchmark and share learning. We also work closely with our national Association of Directors of Children’s Services and with the other English regions.
North East ADCS is supported by a small team, hosted by Durham County Council. The team consists of a Programme Manager, 2 Project Managers and a part-time Executive Support Assistant. The regional team facilitates our networks, creates mechanisms to share knowledge and supports collaboration between local authorities and with partners. The team also coordinates the work of our Regional Improvement and Innovation Alliance.
Meet the team
Abby Holder – NE ADCS Programme Manager
Overall management responsibility and key contact for:
- The RIIA offer/support needs
- Directors Challenge
- Regional benchmarking data
- Branch and lead members network
- UASC
- Regional funding
Jude Dickinson – NE ADCS Policy & Project Manager
Key responsibility for:
- Workforce Board
- Agency social worker memorandum of understanding and capped rates agreement
- Coaching offer and aspiring leaders programme
- Children’s Safeguarding Network (CSN)
- Early Help Network
- Care Leavers Board
- Contextual Safeguarding
Caroline West – NE ADCS Project Manager
Key responsibility for:
- SEND and Inclusion project
- Regional Education Group
- SEND Strategic Network
- Strategic Children’s Commissioning Group
- Sufficiency and Complex needs project including Regional Care Cooperative activity
Megan Smith – NE ADCS Business Support
Key responsibility for:
- Meeting dates and invites
- Agendas, papers and minutes
- Invoices
- Booking arrangements for regional webinars and events