New Year’s Honour for Hampshire’s Children’s Services Director

John Coughlan, Hampshire County Council's Director of Children's Services has been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List.

The honour is in recognition of his work for children's services, helping to improve outcomes for children both locally and nationally. And in particular the award recognises his work alongside John Freeman, Director of Children's Services in Dudley, in setting up the Association of Directors of Children's Services which officially came into being in 2007.

Both men were the organisation's inaugural joint presidents and both have worked tirelessly to ensure the ADCS has promoted the effective integration of children's services nationally, supporting members and working with government agencies including the Department for Children, Schools and Families and Ofsted.

John Coughlan, who is married with two children, joined the County Council in 2005 as its Director of Children's Services to oversee the integration of Education and Children's Social Care services into the current Children's Services department. Under his leadership the department contributed to a successful Joint Area Review of children's services across Hampshire and more recently it was judged to be consistently good across all areas of children's services by Ofsted inspectors.

Commenting on the CBE  award John said: "This is a an honour and a tribute to children's services as a whole. I especially want to thank my family, my colleagues and the elected members in Hampshire. Without all their backing this would not have been possible."

Councillor Ken Thornber, Hampshire County Council's Leader said: "I wish to congratulate John for this award. It is a testimony to his hard work and dedication to ensuring the successful integration of children's services, not just here in Hampshire, but nationally as well. Under his leadership Hampshire County Council Children's Services have been recognised as narrowing the gap between the outcomes of the most vulnerable children and all children and young people.”

Andrew Smith, Hampshire County Council's Chief Executive added: "I am delighted for John. This is a well deserved award. As a member of the County Council's corporate management team he has made a vital contribution to the work of Hampshire County Council as it seeks to ensure the county is an excellent place for people to live, grow up and work in."