THURROCK Council's lead councillor for children's services has welcomed the council's move to appoint an independent chair of the borough's safer children's partnership.

An advertisement for the role, which pays £600 a day for up to 21 days a year has now been published.

The council's children's services have come in for considerable criticism over recent years and Cllr James Halden, the cabinet member for social care feels it is important that any scrutiny of the service is carried out independently of the council, a suggestion put forward by Ofsted when it recently reviewed Thurrock Council's children's services.

Currently the director of children's services, Sheila Murphy, holds the position and Cllr Halden believes that is not the best way for the service to be scrutinized, saying: "We need to hold the partnership (Police, Council and NHS) to the highest standards and scrutiny."

He has championed the change which means the lead position on scrutiny will not have any direct contact with the day-to-day running of the departments.

Cllr Halden said: "This is why we have gone a step further than Ofsted have asked us, and have brought back independent chairmanship of the safeguarding partnership.

"This means there will not be any suggestions of the partnership "marking its own homework" - this should give people with concerns even more confidence to come to the partnership with the safeguarding issues they worry them.

"Sunlight is the best disinfectant and Thurrock is once again showing that we invite challenge because we are proud of the service but keen to always have a critical friend to spur us on, without fear or favour".

Cllr Halden has also supported further change, adding: "We've also got a brand new business manager - partnership needed more capacity. I want to investigate more than just serious events, I want to be able to probe the near misses."