Meet John Macilwraith, the new Corporate Director for Children’s Services

We met John at a recent ASYE Academy Meet & Greet for Newly Qualified Social Workers, and spoke to him about his first impressions of Buckinghamshire Council, and his new role.

“At Buckinghamshire Council, staff are really dedicated, and together we are committed to supporting our Children’s Social Care employees in achieving the best outcomes for children and young people in Buckinghamshire. In my role as Buckinghamshire Council’s new Corporate Director for Children’s Services, I aim to apply my experience and leadership skills to support our colleagues and deliver on our shared goals.

I’m keen to ensure that we continue to encourage colleagues’ professional development, provide the right environment to practise safely as a Children’s Social Worker, and support Social Workers with varied opportunities which will help their careers to flourish and thrive. I really hope people can see potential in their future at Buckinghamshire Council, and I would encourage anyone with the relevant skills, experiences, and shared passions to consider joining us. It’s a great place to work.

Buckinghamshire Councils’ ASYE Academies are inspirational. They provide an opportunity for Newly Qualified Social Workers to learn from more experienced colleagues, and work alongside our families to learn what it is like to be a child or young person in Buckinghamshire. In addition, we can learn from our new Social Workers — I encourage them to challenge our thinking and push us to new limits.

By attending the ASYE Academy Meet & Greet, I really wanted to give a sense of personal connection from the Director of Children’s Services. I want our Newly Qualified Social Workers to feel part of the Council and connected to me and their Senior Leadership team. The latest ASYE Academy cohort are going to be great. I want to help them be as good as they can be. I’m very interested in seeing them succeed, and I want them to come and talk to me — if there are any barriers that they are encountering, I can work with colleagues across the Council to remove these. Our Newly Qualified Social Workers are vital to making a real difference to the children and young people of Buckinghamshire — and we would love to see them grow their career at Buckinghamshire Council.”

To find out more about working at Buckinghamshire Council, as well as employment opportunities within Children’s Social Care in Buckinghamshire, visit: https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/