When Leicestershire County Council’s Children and Family Services Department was awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating by Ofsted in July this year, in many ways, it felt like my career had been leading up to this moment. It really got me thinking about my journey in local government and where it all began.
I have always wanted to work with children and young people, in a job where I could make a difference. My first taste of working life involved running a braille embossing service and later working in student services. I then secured a number of part time youth work jobs and I knew I had more to give but my love of supporting young people most definitely started here.
My first role at the county council began in August 2003, where I was delighted to be appointed to set up a new youth inclusion and support panel team in the Youth Offending Service.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve been encouraged to take advantage of training and mentoring and in turn been rewarded with new responsibilities at the county council, alongside bringing up my young family. I even went back to university, completing my Masters in Leadership and Management at Warwick.
It’s a privilege to now be Director of Children and Families, leading a whole range of important services which have a real impact on children’s lives across Leicestershire. The county council has always been an incredibly supportive environment for me, right from the beginning of my career – now, I mentor other colleagues and contribute towards workplace training on leadership.
Local government offers the opportunity to make a real difference to other people’s lives every day, working in an organisation which is a key thread in the fabric of our society. Alongside satisfying work, a supportive environment with a great work-life balance ensures that everyone is welcome and able to give their best.
I love my job and there’s always something new and exciting to learn. I want to continue making myself and our service better, to meet the changing needs of children and families in Leicestershire.
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