A council housing chief has been appointed as new chief executive of the Youth Justice Board. John Drew is currently director of housing and community services at Redbridge LBC, and his appointment consolidates local government's position within the Youth Justice Board. Frances Done, a former chief executive at Rochdale MBC and managing director of local government at the Audit Commission, became chair of the Youth Justice Board in February. Mr Drew has responsibility for adult social care and adult education, leisure, housing, and payments and benefits at Redbridge, and will take up his new post in January. Until recently, he was chair of the Youth Offending Team and Youth Crime Prevention Teams and led the establishment of Redbridge Children's Trust. He was formerly chief children and families' officer at Redbridge where he established the local youth offending team and developed the local authority's youth justice strategy. His career in local government has included social and children's services experience at Tower Hamlets LBC, Essex CC and Lancashire CC. Ms Done said: β I am delighted to welcome Mr Drew as the new chief executive. βHe brings a wealth of experience and has been an innovator in developing new partnerships.'