A new association for heads of children's services launched this week, with an unusual pledge to take a softly-softly approach to dealing with Whitehall and ministers. At its launch in London, the joint presidents of the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) insisted there would be ‘no soundbite-grabbing', and any disputes with ministers would take place ‘behind closed doors'. Joint president, John Coughlan, children's services director at Hampshire CC, said: ‘We represent people with serious statutory responsibilities, and have to behave accordingly. ‘We're not a special interest group and we've no intention of soundbite-grabbing. Disagreements will be heard behind closed doors.' He warned, however, that the comprehensive spending review would be ‘difficult' and we ‘must brace ourselves'. Launch guests included children and families minister, Beverley Hughes, and DfES permanent secretary, David Bell, himself a former LEA education director. Ms Hughes said relations between the DfES and the previous associations had always been ‘constructive', and she was confident this would continue, but things would be more ‘straightforward' dealing with just one body. The new association is a merger of children's directors from the former Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) and senior education managers from the Confederation of Children's Services Managers. It will have a maximum of 3,000 members and recruit down to third-tier managers as well as directors. It is an inevitable result of the setting up of children's services directors under the 2004 Children Act, which have to be in place by law by next year. In turn, members of the ADSS with responsibilities for adult services will, on 26 March, form a new Association of Directors of Adult Social Services. Both associations will continue to meet together at their annual social services conference and exhibition in October
