About the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board
The Adoption Leadership Board (ALB) was established in 2014 to provide leadership to the adoption system and drive improvements in performance. In 2018 the Board became the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board (ASGLB), with a remit to cover previously looked after children subject to adoption or special guardianship orders. CVAA has a contract with the DfE to provide a management and secretariat service for the ALB.
The ASGLB is made up of 12 senior officials from key organisations in the adoption and permanence system in England. This includes colleagues from local authorities, voluntary adoption agencies, the Department for Education, and independent experts.
The ASGLB is chaired by Andrew Christie CBE, who was appointed by the Education Secretary in March 2016. Andrew has over 40 years’ experience on the front line of children’s social care and is also Chair of the Birmingham Children’s Trust. Previously, Andrew has acted as Chair of the Lambeth Safeguarding Children Board, the Executive Director of Children’s Services for London’s Tri-borough area, and as Chair of Health, Care and Additional Needs Policy Committee at ADCS.
BOARD MEMBERS
| Organisation | Position | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Andrew Christie | |
| ADCS | President | Stuart Gallimore |
| ADCS | Chair of Health, Care and Additional Needs Policy Committee | Charlotte Ramsden |
| Adoption UK | Chief Executive | Sue Armstrong-Brown |
| CoramBAAF | Director | John Simmonds |
| CVAA | Chief Executive Officer | Maggie Jones |
| Department for Education | Director of Children's Social Care, Practice and Workforce | Katy Willison |
| Family Rights Group | Chief Executive Officer | Cathy Ashley |
| Grandparents Plus | Chief Executive Officer | Lucy Peake |
| LGA | Chair of the Children and Young People's Board | Cllr Lucy Nethsingha |
| CAFCASS | Director of Strategy | Teresa Williams |
| Hadley Centre | Professor of Social Work | Julie Selwyn |
| Judicial Observer | Mr Justice MacDonald | |
| Independent Adviser to the Board | Mark Owers |