Jacqui Old CBE is Executive Director for Education and Children’s Services at Lancashire County Council, one of the largest local authorities in England. She was awarded a CBE in recognition of her contribution to public service and improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

Jacqui is a nationally recognised improvement leader with over 30 years’ experience across local government, the NHS, social care, education, public health and safeguarding. She has held Executive Director, Director of Children’s Services (DCS), Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) and senior NHS leadership roles, leading complex organisations through significant change, service transformation and improvement. With extensive experience of supporting authorities through inspection, intervention and reform, she combines strategic leadership with hands-on improvement expertise. A former DfE Improvement Partner, Jacqui has a strong track record of delivering sustainable change, including leading two local authorities to Outstanding Children’s Services and Outstanding Youth Justice outcomes, and supporting organisations to strengthen leadership, governance, performance and outcomes for children, young people and families.

Jacqui has extensive experience supporting councils through inspection, intervention, transformation and reform. She has acted as a DfE Improvement Partner, contributed to national improvement programmes and led regional sector-led improvement activity, including the North West Regional Improvement Programme and Sector Led Improvement Programme supporting local authorities to strengthen governance, leadership, workforce development and reform readiness.

Her areas of expertise include:

• Children’s services improvement and inspection readiness
• Governance, assurance and performance improvement
• SEND and inclusion
• Major incident and public inquiry leadership
• Safeguarding and partnership leadership
•  Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
• Workforce development and organisational culture

Jacqui is known for providing constructive challenge, building trusted relationships and helping organisations translate recommendations into sustainable improvements for children, families and communities.

Phil Watson is the Service Director for Family Help, Care and Protection at Norfolk County Council. He provides strategic leadership across safeguarding, family help, child protection and care services, championing a relationship-based approach that places children and families at the centre of practice. Phil has been instrumental in strengthening multi-agency partnerships across health, education, police and the voluntary sector, helping to ensure that children receive timely and coordinated support. Under his leadership, Norfolk’s Children’s Services achieved an Outstanding judgement in its most recent Ofsted Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS), reflecting the dedication of the workforce and the collective commitment of partners to delivering excellent services for children and young people.