Flintshire Council ‘come to the aid of a neighbour in their time of need’ as Wrexham Council loan a Chief Officer

Wrexham Council have come to a ‘temporary management arrangement’ with Flintshire Council that will see a top council officer coming in on loan until a permanent appoint can be made. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Council’s Chief Executive Colin Everett wrote to councillors there stating, “Wrexham Council is going through a very challenging time following an external inspection of Children’s Services and with a recruitment underway for a new Director of Social Services.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We are pleased to have been able to offer support and assistance. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

We have agreed that our colleague Neil Ayling will act as interim statutory director at Wrexham, on a part-time basis alongside his key role here, for a four month period from 1st March. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This is a temporary management arrangement made with the full support of Neil’s management team and the Chief Officer Team. The Leader and Cabinet member are also supportive.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It is important that we come to the aid of a neighbour in their time of need. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This is also a good opportunity for Neil, as a highly respected senior professional in the region, albeit a challenging one. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Our Social Services Management Team is a strong one and there should be no impact on management cover or service performance and continuity in Flintshire from this temporary arrangement.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Wrexham Council’s Ian Bancroft Chief Executive stated: “We are currently recruiting a Chief Officer for Social Care and are grateful during this interim period that Flintshire County Council and Neil Ayling will be providing the Statutory Director role. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Our aim is to have offered this post by the end of March and have the post filled by 1st July.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We have been working to progress improvements in the service. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

These are challenging times both in terms of demand, service pressures, improvements required, and a change in leadership at the Chief Officer level. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The £1m being proposed for Children’s Services being considered at the Council meeting on 26th February are specifically focussed on supporting the service to make the necessary improvements.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It is thought the loan move was firmed up in a morning meeting of the Appointments Committee yesterday, however the meeting was held under “Part 2” conditions of secrecy. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Wrexham Council are currently recruiting for a Chief Officer for Social Care, as well as a Chief Officer for Education & Early Intervention. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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