Director of Nottingham children’s services leaves job after 4 months for 'personal reasons'

Nottingham City Council’s director for children and education services has left the post after four months in the role. Jill Colbert was appointed to the role at the end of September last year to support the Labour-led council’s improvement of the department.

The authority’s children’s services was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted in 2022, and the watchdog has been conducting a series of visits over the past two years to monitor improvements. Coun Cheryl Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) Ms Colbert had left the post due to personal reasons.

“Both Jill and I are disappointed,” she said. “She was looking forward to working with us on our improvement journey.”

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A recruitment campaign took place in January, and a job listing reveals the salary for the role will be between £142,950 and £166,434.

Council documents, published ahead of an appointments and conditions of service committee on February 4, say 12 applications were received and four candidates have been selected for consideration. Final interviews will take place on February 14.

Following Ofsted’s sixth and final monitoring visit towards the end of last year, the watchdog said progress to improve the city’s children’s services is being sustained despite severe financial challenges. However it said there are still too many young children living in children’s homes, including ‘illegal’ unregistered children’s homes, due to a lack of suitable foster carers and residential placements.

Cllr Barnard said Sarah Nardone had been appointed interim corporate director for children and education services while a permanent position is sorted. Ms Nardone has been seconded from Lincolnshire, where she has worked as a children’s services assistant director, focusing on transformation and improvements.

Lincolnshire County Council has been acting as an improvement partner for Nottingham City Council ’s children’s services.