Permanent chief executive of Northants' children's trust appointed

Northamptonshire’s children’s trust has finally appointed a permanent chief executive.

Five weeks before the trust is due to take over the running of children’s social services, a permanent boss to manage the day to day operations has been put in place.

Colin Foster, the current director of Bedford Borough Council, will take on the position.

The trust, which is being set up on government orders after being badly led by Northamptonshire County Council, is however still without a chairman after Ian Curryer resigned earlier this month when his role in a failed energy project while in charge at Nottingham City Council came to light.

A media statement released today by Northamptonshire County Council said: “Colin joins the trust with 15 years’ experience in children’s services. He is passionate about delivering services that protect children and young people as well as supporting them to be the best they can be.

“As well as his extensive involvement in children’s services, Colin also has experience of working in the private sector in commercial operations in the UK and internationally. This gave him the opportunity to get involved in community projects in Asia, one of which was helping to build a school.”

Colin said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Northamptonshire Children’s Trust. I get up in the morning to make a difference to the lives of children, young people and families and I commit to leading the trust to be an organisation that listens, enables and supports communities in the county.”

There have been two interim chief executives of the trust prior to Mr Foster’s appointment.

The launch of Northamptonshire Children’s Trust was originally planned for July of this year but fell behind, in part due to Covid-19 and will now launch on November 1. Staff will transfer over to the new trust, although education services will remain within the local authority.

Cllr Fiona Baker, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “The launch of the trust is at the core of our improvement programme.

“The appointment of Colin as the chief executive is instrumental in our development of a new organisation that will aspire to deliver outstanding services for children, young people and families in Northamptonshire.”