With 15 years experience in child care management both in private and public sector settings, Paul’s current role is as Operational Manager for the Fostering Service for Stoke on Trent City Council.

With a background in project and performance management, which included the development of a Quality Assurance team to monitor the outcomes of all children placed within the independent sector. Part of Paul’s remit was to improve placement stability and promote emotional well being by the development of Placement Support and Preventative services. Given this Paul entered the management of Fostering Services with a unique perspective, developing systems that complimented the high standard of professional practice that already existed within Stoke on Trent.

Paul was able to identify what were for him the shortfalls in service delivery and worked with his colleagues to transform the service. This not only resulted in achieving Stoke City Council’s recently achieved Ofsted outstanding rating, but a four fold increase in foster carer recruitment.