We are pleased to welcome Ian Sutherland to the role of Independent Chair/Scrutineer of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (OSCB). Ian was appointed in January 2024 by MASA (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements) and started in the role on Wednesday 21st February 2024.
The OSCB is responsible for ensuring that local agencies work together to safeguard children. Ian’s role is pivotal to supporting the partnership to develop best practice and deliver good quality services for children across Oxfordshire.
Ian has held a number of senior leadership roles in the UK, including Director of Children Services and Executive Director of Social Work for a health and social care trust in Northern Ireland. Most recently Ian has held the position of Director of Children and Adult Services for Medway Council. He is currently an Associate Consultant for the Health and Social Care Leadership Centre in Belfast and was formerly a Trustee for the Social Care Institute for Excellence. He also undertakes a range of voluntary roles which involve working directly with young people and supporting vulnerable adults.
As Chair and Scrutineer, Ian’s wealth of experience in strategic safeguarding, inspections and partnership working will support and challenge the partnership to ensure Oxfordshire safeguarding arrangements are as strong and resilient as possible, and compliant with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.
On joining the Partnership, Ian said “I am delighted to be joining the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership as Chair and Scrutineer. The OSCB and it’s partners have already shown me that they are committed and ambitious to ensure that they continue to improve their joint working so that children, young people and families have the best outcomes. As a scrutineer I will be particularly keen to hear the voice of children and young people, and to engage with practitioners to understand how the partnership can ensure they have the tools to do the best for children and families in Oxfordshire.”
Ian was welcomed to the role by the MASA group, who said “Ian is a great addition to the OSCB and we are pleased to welcome him to the team. We look forward to working with Ian and assuring ourselves that we have the most effective arrangements for our children and families in Oxfordshire”.