The Chief Officers' Employment Panel of Harrow Council met on Thursday 12 June 2025 to approve new remuneration packages for senior roles within Children's Services and to consider the appointment of a new Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration. The panel approved the proposed remuneration packages, which are part of a restructuring aimed at improving the services provided to children and young people.

Approval of Remuneration Packages for Children's Services Restructure

The panel approved new remuneration packages for senior roles within the Children's Services Directorate, following a significant restructuring. This restructure aims to address concerns raised in a recent OFSTED inspection, which rated Harrow's children's services as 'Inadequate' overall, particularly in the area of leaving care. The proposed changes include the introduction of a D2 Divisional Director of Social Care post and a D1 Assistant Director Practice Improvement and Quality Assurance. The new structure will result in an additional cost of £80,000 per year, which will be funded through efficiencies identified within the directorate.

The report presented to the panel highlighted that the OFSTED inspection in January 2025 found Harrow's children's services to be 'Good' in some areas, such as the experiences and progress of children who need help and protection, and the experiences and progress of children in care. However, the impact of leaders on social worker practice was noted as requiring improvement, and the experiences and progress of care leavers were rated as 'Inadequate'. The council has since implemented support for care leavers, with all those over 18 now having a dedicated worker and care plan.

The recommendations approved by the panel were:

• To approve the remuneration packages for the posts of Director of Safeguarding (D2 grade) and Assistant Director Practice Improvement and Quality Assurance (D1 grade).
• To note that the vacant roles of Assistant Director Early Help and Front Door (D1) and Assistant Director Children In Need (D1) will be deleted, and the regrading of four MG4 Head of Service posts to MG5 Head of Service posts.

The report stated that the new structure would strengthen the senior leadership team, address OFSTED concerns, and is reflective of the breadth of role and experience needed. The financial implications show the new structure costing £1,267,499, an increase of £80,000 from the previous structure's cost of £1,186,597. The report also noted that no Equality Impact Assessment was carried out, as there were no anticipated impacts on protected characteristics from the approval of the salary packages.

Appointment of Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration

The panel also considered the appointment of a Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration. This item was discussed in private session, with the press and public excluded, due to the nature of the information relating to individuals and their financial and business affairs. No public record of the decision made regarding this appointment is available.

Other Business

The panel also noted the attendance of members, received declarations of interest (none were made), and took the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 February 2025 as read and signed them as a correct record. The appointment of a Vice-Chair for the Chief Officers' Employment Panel for the Municipal Year 2025/26 was also considered.

The previous meeting of the Chief Officers' Employment Panel on 13 February 2025 saw the unanimous resolution to offer the post of Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy to Cathy Knubley, the Acting Strategic Director, on a salary of £135,474.