Council appoints new Director of Children’s Services

Cheryl Eastwood will start her new role at Rochdale Council next year.

A long-serving public sector worker with more than 25 years’ experience of working with children and young people is to take over the position of Executive Director of Children’s Services at Rochdale Council.

Cheryl Eastwood will start her new role next Spring with Terry Piggott due to retire during 2010.

Ms Eastwood is currently Deputy Director of Services for Children and Young People at Tameside Borough Council. She is a founder member of their Building Schools for the Future project board, responsible for rebuilding or remodelling all high schools in Tameside.

She has worked with children and young people in the North West for over 25 years as a senior officer in several local authorities and is a former Regional Director of Children’s Services at NCH - the national children’s charity. Ms Eastwood has also held management positions at Oldham Council and led a social services, children and families team at Bolton Council.

Roger Ellis, Chief Executive at Rochdale Council, said: “Progress across Children’s Services in Rochdale has been good over recent years, with results in schools continuing to improve. We’ve already improved life chances and created a joined up approach to children’s services, but we need someone to maintain this momentum and help us to do even better in the future. I’m looking forward to Cheryl becoming a driving force in our team, helping to ensure we deliver the best possible children’s services.”

Ms Eastwood said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be offered this opportunity and looking forward to working with local schools, colleagues in the council and their partners. I want to build on the excellent work already being done in the borough. I believe passionately in improving outcomes for children, young people and their families. There is a strong team in Children’s Services already, and with them I want to further improve all children and young people’s life chances, creating even better opportunities to raise aspirations and achieve well."