The General Social Care Council, the new regulatory body for the social care profession, has announced appointments to its three director-level posts covering standards and regulation, corporate communications, and corporate services.
Two of the new appointments come from local government whilst the third is currently working in central government. The three directors will report to General Social Care Council Chief Executive Lynne Berry.
The General Social Care Council launched in October 2001 with a brief to regulate the social care profession. Last week it launched an England-wide consultation on draft codes of practice for social care workers and employers which it hopes to publish this summer. The Council is also in the process of setting up a register of social care workers, due to be launched in 2003, and is carrying out work on behalf of the Department of Health to develop a new degree-level qualification for social workers.
Announcing the new appointments, Ms Berry said: “This is a great start to 2002 for the General Social Care Council. We were overwhelmed with the quality of the applications for these key posts and I am delighted to announce three such high-calibre appointments. The panel were particularly impressed with the excellent level of understanding of social care shown by the three successful candidates, their commitment to working in the sector and making a positive difference. I know all three will bring first class skills, commitment and enthusiasm to our new organisation and take forward our challenging and exciting timetable of work.”
All three directors will take up their posts in April 2002.
Director of Regulation, Mike Wardle
The Director of Regulation at the General Social Care Council will oversee the arrangements for registering 1.2million social care workers in England and be responsible for regulating the workforce and reforming social work education and training.
Currently a director in the Lifelong Learning team at the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), Mike Wardle is currently drawing up advice on quality, excellence and regulation in higher education. He has previously been a key policy advisor to David Blunkett and Estelle Morris.
Mike Wardle said: “I am very pleased to be joining the Council at such an important time for the development of social care services and those working in them. I am looking forward to contributing to that development and to helping create an organisation which will deliver real improvement.”
Director of Corporate Communications, Mark Oakes
The Director of Corporate Communications will oversee media, marketing and public relations for the Council, including the key task of leading on consultation.
Mark Oakes is currently Head of Communications at Surrey County Council – where he has been heavily involved with the council's People First programme – and was previously Head of Corporate Communications at Essex County Council. He has also worked at the Local Government Association, the Association of County Councils, the Association of District Councils and Westminster City Council. He is a past chairman of the national Society of County and Unitary Public Relations Officers (now LG communicators).
Mark Oakes said: “I am very pleased to be joining the General Social Care Council at such a critical time for social care. The General Social Care Council and its sister and partner organisations will be at the heart of improving social care, building a stronger, more positive future for it and boosting the image of the profession. It’s a major challenge, an exciting agenda and a very worthwhile cause. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Director of Corporate Services, Chris Pottinger
The Director of Corporate Services will oversee the financial, IT and human resources of the General Social Care Council, including leading on the major IT project which will support the register of social care workers.
As Head of Resources at the London Borough of Lewisham, Chris Pottinger currently oversees a budget of over £100million and has a strong track record in delivering IT improvements. In the 1990s Chris was financial adviser to the House of Commons Health Committee working on the application and implications of the Community Care Act. He has previously worked at the London Borough Richmond-Upon-Thames, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, the London Borough of Sutton and the Royal Borough Kingston-upon-Thames.
Chris Pottinger said: "Social care services and the professionals who deliver them are a cornerstone of a caring and supportive modern society. The General Social Care Council is going to be at the forefront of improving standards and helping to raise the profile of social workers across the country, and I am therefore absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to contribute towards delivering this agenda. There is much to be done and the timescales are tight, especially in creating the national register. But that is part of the challenge and the excitement of the task ahead."