'£1,000 per day' for interim child care chief

Joanne Ginley

COUNCIL chiefs in Leeds are believed to be paying as much as 1,000 a day for an expert to help improve children’s services.

Eleanor Brazil’s appointment as interim director of children’s services has come after independent inspectors produced a critical assessment of children’s services in the city and the Government imposed an improvement board to oversee changes in the service

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She is to take over the position until a permanent director is found.

Yesterday, Leeds City Council said it would not comment on how much Ms Brazil was being paid but it is understood she has been appointed through an agency at a cost of about 1,000 a day.

Since January last year, she has been a deputy director responsible for children’s social care in Haringey – the London borough at the centre of the baby P scandal.

Councillor Stewart Golton, executive member responsible for children’s services in Leeds, said: “We are very pleased to be appointing Eleanor Brazil as our interim director of children’s services.

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“Although we cannot discuss the financial arrangements surrounding the appointment we are satisfied that it is no more than is the average for obtaining the specialist knowledge and experience required for this post.

“In appointing Eleanor, the council has obtained the services of a talented and experienced leader and manager.

“The children’s services agenda is very large and there are many challenges ahead, so it is vital that this role is filled by the highest calibre of person.”

Coun Golton said Ms Brazil would oversee the Council's improvement agenda for children’s services.

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She has previously worked as director of social services and housing in the London Borough of Sutton and a director of Sutton and Merton NHS Primary Care Trust. Since 2006, she has held senior interim roles covering commissioning in Liverpool and adult services in Herefordshire.