The Chief Officer Appointments Sub-Committee of Newham Council was scheduled to convene to interview candidates for the significant role of Director of Adult Social Care. The meeting's agenda focused on the appointment process for this key position, with discussions and recommendations to be made regarding the successful applicant.

Appointment of Director of Adult Social Care

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the appointment of a new Director of Adult Social Care. This role has been established as part of a review of the council's management structure, aiming to strengthen the senior leadership within the Adults and Health directorate. The need for this position was identified following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2025, which highlighted insufficient senior resource to implement an improvement plan.

The report pack indicated that the Chief Officer Appointment Sub-Committee was asked to recommend a candidate for appointment, following interviews. This recommendation would then be subject to consultation with Cabinet members. The recruitment process involved advertising the role, longlisting applicants, and conducting assessment centres. Fiona Connolly, Corporate Director of Adults and Health, oversaw the recruitment, supported by Gordon McFarlane, Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development. The report pack noted that candidate details were contained within an exempt appendix, not available for public inspection due to containing information relating to individuals.

The report also outlined the legal and financial implications of the appointment. Legally, the process and recommendation were stated to be in accordance with the Council's Constitution and Officer Employment Procedure Rules, as well as general employment legislation and the council's recruitment policy. Financially, the Director of Adult Social Care position is a budgeted post, with salary costs falling within the range set out in the Council's Pay Policy for 2026/2027.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at Newham Dockside, located at 1000 Dockside Road, E16 2QU.