Mark Riddell MBE has been appointed as the National
Implementation Adviser for care leavers, and will work
closely with local authorities as they drive forward the
new duties introduced through the Children & Social
Work Act (2017).
The role includes helping councils to develop a stronger
local offer of support for care leavers, offering
Personal Adviser services for all care leavers up to age
25 and delivering on their special responsibilities as a
‘corporate parent’ – principles set out in the Act.
He will have a particular focus on supporting those
councils that have had their leaving care services rated
as inadequate or requiring improvement by Ofsted.
, Minister for
Children and Families, said:
Young people leaving care are one of the most
vulnerable groups in society and we are determined that
they should get the high quality support they need to
help them make the transition into adulthood.
I am delighted that Mark has taken up this post and
look forward to working closely with him as we continue
our drive to improve the experiences and outcomes of
care leavers across the country.
Mark Riddell MBE said:
I am delighted to be offered the post and am passionate
about improving support for care leavers. Young people
leaving care face many challenges as they prepare for
independence, and crucial to making that transition
successful is the support from their ‘corporate
parents’, the local authority.
I look forward to the challenge of working with these
councils as they bring in the positive changes
introduced by the Children & Social Work Act.
Mr Riddell brings with him a wealth of experience working
with care leavers. Prior to accepting this position he
was the leaving care manager in Trafford, the first local
authority judged by Ofsted to have Outstanding care
leaver services.
He also acted as an informal adviser to the Department
for Education on the development of the care leaver
strategy, which sets out the additional support provided
by local and central government to help care leavers
succeed.
