60 Seconds with...Stuart Carlton

Corporate Director - Children and Young People’s Service, North Yorkshire County Council

Why did you get into social care?

My Dad made me work during holidays at University. The year before he got me a job in a bakery, 60 hrs a week making scones, it was the dullest thing I have ever done. The next year I said I would get my own job and rang a local Children’s home. So, began a career.

What are the major challenges LAs face these days?

Money and increased demand. There is no fat left to trim, the only options now are stopping essential services. Add to that school’s money for vulnerable children being woefully short and next year will be the toughest yet across the country.

How do you address these problems at North Yorkshire?

We work hard to keep the quality of service high and our children with us. We have strong financial management and have made good decisions in investing in early help and edge of care services that work. We are also lobbying hard for fairer funding to schools.

Major achievement?

Work-wise, it would have to be our recent Ofsted inspection of Children’s Services. First Local Authority to get outstanding across all judgements, first to get outstanding for the Help and Protection judgement