Ian Thomas
Why imperfection is perfection
Keynote speaker and awards compère at the recent PPMA conference Ian Thomas says making mistakes can be a powerful enabler that drives innovation and creativity.
Achieving great things for Kingston
Kingston RLBC won the senior leadership team of the year category of The MJ Awards 2021. Great staff have come together to collectively own the budget and quickly transform lives, writes Ian Thomas.
Rebooting our sector
Solace’s week of virtual learning Reflect.Reset.Re-imagine has begun. Here, three Solace spokespeople set the scene by looking at the profound impact of COVID-19 on the sector and local communities, and what lies ahead.
Often the answers lie within the communities we serve
These are early days for COVID-19 and there is much more to do, says Ian Thomas as he outlines how the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames swung into action.
Demand led, resource constrained: SEND is broken
Outraged at the Government's call for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities financial recovery plans, Ian Thomas explains why it is the funding that is flawed, not the execution.
‘A paradigm shift is what is required’
The unintended consequences of the 2014 SEND reforms are starting to impact on the viability of many councils, according to Ian Thomas. He says Kingston upon Thames RLBC and its partners are focusing on reducing demand through earlier intervention.
Appointment panels hold unconscious bias
Ian Thomas demands proportionate positive action to increase diversity in leadership positions.
A critical time for children’s services
Alison Michalska explains the urgent need for government action and national attention on the state of children’s services, while Jenny Coles calls for a national strategy to end child poverty, and Ian Thomas puts forward the case for government investment in the Autumn Budget.
We’re moving in the right direction
Ian Thomas explains how Rotherham MBC has made progress two years into its five-year transformation programme.
Acting early for the parents of tomorrow
Intervening early to support children’s life chances has been largely absent from national debates about public service reform. Ian Thomas says it is time for a 30-year strategy for tomorrow’s parents
Sowing the seeds of hope
Almost two years since Rotherham was hit with shocking revelations about historic child sexual exploitation, Ian Thomas explains why partnership working has been key to securing landmark convictions and the ongoing safety of young people