Merton Council will soon be welcoming a new Director of Children, Schools and Families, as current director Yvette Stanley, takes up her role as National Director of Social Care at Ofsted.

Rachael Wardell will join Merton on 14 May 2018.

Currently Corporate Director for Communities at West Berkshire Council, Rachael brings a great deal of invaluable experience to Merton.  Her career to date includes eight years in local government starting as assistant director in Wokingham Borough Council children’s services and early intervention. Prior to that she spent seven years at Ofsted, where she was responsible for children’s policy projects in early years and social care and an earlier seven years at the Legal Aid Board.

Leaving Merton after nearly 10 years in the borough, Yvette Stanley has many achievements to celebrate, most notably Merton’s Children’s services being rated good with outstanding features at its recent Ofsted inspection and being the highest in the country for progress in secondary schools.

Rachael Wardell said, “I am very pleased to be joining Merton and working with members, partners, colleagues and staff.  The borough is very respected in terms of their education record and children’s social care and I look forward to continuing to deliver key services to our children, schools and families across the borough.”

Merton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Katy Neep said: “We are committed to making Merton the best place for young people to grow up and the job of director of children’s services is key to this.  Rachael impressed us with her commitment to partnership working and passion for enabling all our young people to be the best they can be. We look forward to working with her to build on the fantastic legacy achieved by Yvette to ensure Merton continues to be a great place for young people to learn, live and have fun.”