The officer leadership team at Southampton City Council is being restructured with one senior manager leaving the authority and another taking on extra responsibilities.
Claire Edgar has been appointed Surrey County Council’s executive director for adults, wellbeing and health partnerships.
Ms Edgar joined the city council in late 2022 to head up adult social care, public health, communities and housing.
A chief officer employment panel met on August 27 and appointed current executive director of children and learning Rob Henderson to the new post of executive director for children and adults.
This interim position combines Mr Henderson’s and Ms Edgar’s existing jobs.
The local authority said this was to ensure “continuity” when Ms Edgar leaves at the end of the month.
A spokesperson said: “It will also help ensure there will continue to be close working between our adults and children’s social care departments which was a recommendation in the CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) report to the council last year.”
Mr Henderson had been working closely with Ms Edgar for many months, especially on transformation work which cut across all council departments, the spokesperson added.
Ms Edgar’s departure from the city council was discussed by the health overview and scrutiny panel on September 6.
Panel member John Moon asked if there were concerns the change in executive directorate structure would impact the transformation in adult social care.
Cabinet member for adults and health Cllr Marie Finn said the work had to continue and there were “very good” heads of service in place, who were “very committed to following it through”.
Cllr Finn said: “Also the fact the plan going forward is for Rob Henderson, who is head of children and families, to be looking after adults as well, so he is known to staff, he knows the programmes.
“There is a continuity. It will have to carry on because we have no choice and will be pushing it through.”
Ms Edgar told the panel she beleives she was leaving the department in a good place.
“I think we are on the right tracks and I think the transformation programme we have got makes sense to practitioners and that’s where you get the change from,” Ms Edgar said.
She told councillors went she joined the authority the service was in “disarray” with “big challenges” to address.
The council closed Holcroft House care home last year and increased some care charges as part of this year’s budget. Both decisions which faced intense scrutiny.
Ms Edgar said staff had worked tirelessly and driven change in the face of “difficult conversations”.
“I don’t drive change on my own,” she said. “It absolutely involves the teams to do it and they have embraced it and they have listened really carefully to the things that I have said.
“I think that is partly to do with wanting a vision for them that they could hold onto for a long period of time.”
Councillors recognised Ms Edgar’s efforts, formally noting: “The panel recognises the tremendous difference that Claire has brought to the service in Southampton.
“We regret her leaving but we pass on our best wishes for the future.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel