'Stability' role in crisis-hit department

Children's services at Doncaster Council have been under fire over failures which led to the deaths of seven vulnerable youngsters. Shocking attacks in the village of Edlington, where two brothers under 12 attacked two other young boys, and a series of other concerns recently resulted in Government intervention.

The authority's new assistant director of children's services, Vicki Lawson, was drafted in on the Government-appointed team, but will now stay to assist service director Chris Pratt.

Mrs Lawson, 47, will be directly responsible for children in care, children with disabilities, care leavers, fostering and adoption and residential services.

But her role will also include delivering the huge improvements which are required by Government in safeguarding children.

Mrs Lawson said: "I was initially recruited on a four month secondment, but once I was here it's fair to say I was bitten by the challenge of Doncaster and felt it was important for someone taking on this role to be able to really stick at it."