LATEST NEWS

From our Co-vice Chair and Workforce and Leadership Sponsor: I am writing this months, Regional Update following the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and I am sure like me you welcome this time of year where we have the pleasure of all that spring brings and long bank holiday weekends, which means summer is just on the horizon.   So, I am writing this update with lots of positivity.    On 26th March 2026, DCS’s and members of their senior leadership teams came together at Walsall

From Stoke-on-Trent’s DCS: As I’m writing this, it feels like Spring has arrived, the sun is shining and the days warming. However, although spring is a season of change, we are still facing some of same challenges we have seen in our roles over many years. As Bernie wrote in last month’s regional update Local Authorities and indeed the wider public sector are facing extraordinary financial pressures set against the need to make or sustain improvements while budgets tighten,

From Staffordshire’s DCS and our co‑vice chair: As we move further into 2026, I’ve found myself returning to something Rasheed wrote in last month’s introduction — that our services do more than improve outcomes; they actively shape a fairer society. That message feels particularly resonant now, as political volatility continues not just across our region, but nationally and internationally. In this context, our values are not simply statements on a page; they are the foundat

From Solihull’s DCS: I’m writing this in the days between Christmas and New Year, a time to reflect upon the past year, and look with both excitement and not a little trepidation to the year ahead.   I’ve been the Director of Children's Services in Solihull since August of last year, and it’s been a packed few months! We’ve had our long awaited ILACS inspection, been busy preparing ourselves with the design and forthcoming implementation of the Families First reforms and of c

Our Regional Chair’s end of year message:   As we reach the end of another year, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve achieved together across the West Midlands. This is both my first and last end-of-year message as Chair, as my eight years as the DCS in Warwickshire comes to an end in the Spring. It has been a privilege to step into the role of Chair and see firsthand the strength, resilience, and ambition that define our region.   2025 has been a year of progres

From Shropshire’s DCS: As we approach the end of another busy year, with the promise of festivities around the corner, I can't believe it's been 3 months since I took up post as the DCS in Shropshire! During this time, there's been highs, lows, challenges and celebrations!   Having spoken to fellow DCS colleagues, who have been in their role much longer than I, this seems to be the lived experience of our roles. Whilst this inevitably brings challenges, it also makes our role

From Sandwell Children’s Trust’s Chief Executive and our QPPG Sponsor: Autumn is a season of reflection and renewal. As the days shorten and the pace steadies, we find ourselves deep in the work — focused, collaborative, and committed to making a difference.   At Sandwell, we’ve welcomed inspectors as part of our Ofsted ILACS. It’s a moment that naturally brings reflection — not just on progress, but on the values and relationships that underpin everything we do. It’s also a

West Midlands Children’s Services Team Excellence Awards 2025 The West Midlands Team Excellence Awards 2025 brought together children’s...

From Birmingham Children’s Trusts Chief Executive and our RIIA Sponsor:   September always feels like a fresh start. The beginning of the...