ST HELENS Borough Council will continue its search for a dedicated director of children’s services after a series of candidates failed to make the grade.

It is understood that three front-runners were interviewed for the important role by the council’s appointments committee last week.

Five people had originally been shortlisted but by the time the interviews came round on Thursday, two had dropped out of the race.

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Following the interviews, the committee, which is made up of councillors from across all political parties represented on the council, did not recommend any of the candidates for the position.

A council spokesman said it will now advertise the post again in the autumn. Jim Leivers, who joined the council in March, will remain as interim director of children’s services.

A St Helens Borough Council spokesman said: “As part of the council’s plans to transform the way we deliver services a dedicated director of children’s services post has been created to lead the improvement programme across our children’s services.

“We know that these posts are nationally difficult to recruit to, and following a national recruitment process, we did not feel able to appoint on this occasion.

“We will look to advertise the post again in the autumn and Jim Leivers, who is an experienced children’s services director, who has been with us since March this year, will remain as interim director of children’s services.”

The decision to create a dedicated director of children’s services was approved back in December as part of a restructuring of the council’s senior management team.

The move came hot on the heels of Ofsted rating the borough’s social services ‘inadequate’ late last year.

Previously, children’s services fell under the remit of professor Sarah O’Brien, the executive director for people’s services.

Prof O’Brien, who is also the clinical accountable officer for St Helens CCG, led the improvement action following a damning focused visit on children’s services in the summer of 2018.

The findings from that focused visit, which looked at certain aspects of children’s services, resulted in Ofsted issuing three out of a possible four priority actions.

The watchdog also ordered a comprehensive action plan be developed and implemented.

When Ofsted came back to carry out a full inspection in September of last year, it issued its lowest possible rating, despite acknowledging some recent improvements to social services in St Helens.

In its findings, Ofsted said children’s social services had declined since the last full inspection in 2014, when services required improvement.

Politically, the department has seen a string of different Labour councillors oversee operations.

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Billinge and Seneley Green councillor Joe Pearson left the post with immediate effect last August, and was swiftly replaced by Cllr Nova Charlton.

Cllr Charlton, who represents Thatto Heath, is the fourth councillor to oversee children’s services in four years.

Prof O’Brien maintains strategic oversight and coordination of children’s and adult’s services and public health.