NICK WHITFIELD IS the man charged with reviewing Reading's troubled children's services.

Following an 'inadequate' Ofsted rating, Mr Whitfield has been appointed as a non-executive commissioner for children's services.

For the next three months, he will review the operation of children’s services in Reading, before advising the Minister whether they should continue to be governed by the Council.

Reading Council has welcomed Mr Whitfield's appointment as it looks to build on a robust improvement plan already in place to address the concerns raised by Ofsted following its inspection.

Councillor Jan Gavin, Lead Member for Children’s Services in Reading said: “The safeguarding of children in Reading is a top priority for this Council.

"When the Ofsted report was published last month we made it clear that we fully accept its serious findings and that we welcome any help offered to achieve the best possible outcomes for our children.

“Nick Whitfield is an experienced Children’s Services Director who has worked as a commissioner in other local authority areas. The Council will work alongside him as we look to build on the progress made to date.

“The council continues to work at pace to tackle the issues which we ourselves and Ofsted have identified.

"We are determined to make sure that any changes are not just short term, but that they bring about lasting and sustainable improvement. The new commissioner will play a vital role in helping us achieve that.”

The ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating published last month comes as the council tackles an 85 per cent increase in referrals to social care in Reading over the past 12 months.

Over that same period, there has been a 41 per cent increase in social worker caseloads. According to the council, this is coupled with a national shortage of skilled social workers which has effected recruitment in Reading.

In a statement, Reading Council said it fully accepted the serious findings of the Ofsted report.

In the same report, Ofsted acknowledged the council has already started addressing many of the issues raised and that a newly-appointed and experienced management team, led by new director Helen McMullen, have started to make progress.

Mr Whitfield is the Chief Executive of Achieving for Children and before that he was the Director of Children’s Services in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.