City of York Council's Children's Services team will have a new look this autumn following the appointment of  new senior officers.

Pete Dwyer, formally the council's assistant director for Children's Services, has taken over the top post, and is now director of Learning Culture and Children's Services, following the departure of Patrick Scott last month.

He will be joined by Jill Hodges as assistant director of School Improvement and Staff Development. Jill will join the authority in October moving from  her role as a principal  advisor to schools for North Yorkshire County Council. Jill is a very experienced educationalist having previously been a successful head teacher of Norton College.   

Paul Murphy will return to the authority to take up a new post as assistant director of Partnerships and Early Intervention. Paul may be already known to many through his current successful work as Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership (NYBEP), which helps prepare young people for adult and working life by promoting links between schools and businesses.

Paul previously worked for the authority as head of the Inward Investment Board. He will have particular strategic responsibilities in relation to the integrated youth service, early years and the development of the local Children's Trust.

Eoin Rush will take over Pete Dwyer's previous role as assistant director of Children and Families, taking over responsibility for childrens social care services, Special Educational Needs services; youth offending and education welfare from September.

Eoin is moving to York from the London Borough of Kingston where he has contributed significantly to the reputation of that authority for excellence in children's services.

They, together with existing assistant directors Kevin Hall and Charlie Croft, will form the leadership team covering not only the overall children’s agenda but also that of lifelong learning and culture services in the city.
 
Pete Dwyer, director of Learning Culture and Children’s Services, said: “ “We are greatly reassured that at a time of such significant change the authority has been able to attract such excellent senior staff to York. All were keen to work for an organisation with a strong reputation, but we are not complacent and are  determined to further improve outcomes for children and young people in the city.”