The General Social Care Council has been led by interim Chair Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, since it was established in October 2001. Baroness Pitkeathley will step down from the Council on 1 March 2002. The General Social Care Council was established to regulate the social care workforce through a code of practice and a register, and to regulate social work education and training.

Chief Executive Lynne Berry welcomed the appointment of Mr Brooke, a distinguished former local government chief executive.

Ms Berry said: “I am delighted to welcome Rodney to our organisation to take forward our important and ground-breaking work bringing a regulatory framework to the social care profession for the first time.

“I know that his long experience of local government and involvement in a wide range of public policy issues will be hugely valuable for the organisation. We have a challenging and exciting timetable of work ahead of us as we develop codes of conduct and practice for social care workers and employers, work towards a register of the workforce, and contribute to the reform of social work education. I’m delighted we will have such an experienced person on board to guide us.”

Ms Berry also paid tribute to Baroness Pitkeathley, who also led the advisory body which established the General Social Care Council. She said: “Everyone will be very sorry to say goodbye to Jill, who has been an inspirational leader and an outstanding interim chair. We were very privileged to have had Jill’s guidance during our first six months and the benefit of her wisdom for many months before that. She will be greatly missed.”

Baroness Pitkeathley said: “It has been a privilege to be of service to the General Social Care Council in the last 6 months but I am delighted to know that I will leave it in the capable hands of Rodney Brooke and the excellent Council members. I am confident they have an exciting future ahead.”