Liverpool City Council has appointed Dyane Aspinall as interim director of adult social care.

She was the programme director for integrated commissioning in a joint role across Liverpool City Council and Liverpool CCG. She has also served as assistant director of adult social care and health for five years previously.

Blaby DC has appointed John Richardson as its new strategic director.

Mr Richardson, who was the head of community services at North West Leicestershire DC, starts this month and will be responsible for economic growth.

The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has appointed a new chair.

Richard Butcher is currently the managing director at PTL. He will succeed Lesley Williams in October.

Mr Butcher said: ‘I am proud and humbled to be appointed as chair of the PLSA and to succeed Lesley Williams. Lesley is a great chair and a champion of the pensions industry.

‘Looking to the future, I intend to build on the hard work of the association members, the councils and committees and the executive of the PLSA to ensure that we continue to inform the debate and represent the views and interests of our members.’

The Scottish Government has established an independent care review group, chaired by Fiona Duncan.

The Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS) will review the entire care system for young people across Scotland, including legislation, culture and practices. It will also provide recommendations for improvement.

Ms Duncan said: ‘My hope is that today’s announcement and event marks the beginning of the conversation. We really can, will and must deliver a review that changes lives and is transformational.’

Other members of the group include Dorothy Hawthorn from Renfrewshire Council and Carrie Lindsay from Fife Council.