The Chief Officer Appointments Sub-Committee met to appoint a new Director of Early Help and Safeguarding. Following interviews and a recommendation process, the committee agreed to recommend Mahfuzul Khan for the role, subject to Cabinet approval.

Appointment of Director of Early Help and Safeguarding

The Sub-Committee interviewed candidates for the significant role of Director of Early Help and Safeguarding. Following these interviews, the committee agreed to recommend Mahfuzul Khan, who is currently the Acting Director of Early Help and Safeguarding at the London Borough of Newham, for the permanent position. This recommendation is provisional and will be subject to a consultation period of up to two working days with every Member of the Cabinet. During this time, Cabinet members can review the provisional offer and raise any objections, which must be reasonable and based on material fact.

The recruitment process for this position was overseen by Laura Eden, Corporate Director of Children and Young People Services, with support from Caroline Bloch, Strategic HR Business Partner. The process involved an external assessor, Tim Aldridge, and a selection assessment centre with partner stakeholders and a young people's panel. The role of Director of Early Help and Safeguarding is a budgeted post, and the salary costs will align with the Council's Pay Policy for 2025/2026.

Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, who chaired the meeting, declared a non-pecuniary interest due to prior interactions with one of the candidates. Councillor Sarah Ruiz also declared a non-pecuniary interest, having worked closely with a candidate for several years. The meeting was held in closed session for the majority of the proceedings, with press and public excluded due to the nature of the information being discussed, which fell under specific paragraphs of the Local Government Act 1972.