A new Executive Director for Children and Young People has been appointed at Suffolk County Council.  

Sarah-Jane Smedmor, currently Director of Children's Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, will be joining the council in July.

This senior position holds significant responsibility including children in care, education and SEND, safeguarding, youth justice and fostering and adoption.  

Sarah-Jane started her career as a social worker and worked her way to Head of Safeguarding and Standards at Cambridgeshire County Council and then Corporate Director Care and Protection for Children's Services at Dorset Council before moving to Central Bedfordshire. 

Matthew Hicks, Leader of Suffolk County Council, said:  "This role carries huge responsibility, including the safeguarding of our most vulnerable children and young people, and demands exceptional skill and expertise, leadership and compassion. 

"For a post of such significance, it is right that we went through a thorough and exhaustive national recruitment process to find the right person. 

"Sarah-Jane has had an impressive career with children and young people and has a wealth of experience which will hugely benefit the services we deliver to families in Suffolk, including the effective engagement of families and partner organisations." 

One of Sarah-Jane's priorities when she starts will be to oversee the continued improvement of SEND services. This includes the delivery of the Priority Action Plan as agreed by Ofsted following an inspection in November 2023, and the implementation of a new SEND strategy. Sarah-Jane has managed significant improvement within SEND services in Central Bedfordshire under its Accelerated Progress Plan since her appointment.  

She must also address a challenging budgetary situation within children and young people's services, driven in part by significant demand.