Bradford Children and Families Trust has appointed Charlotte Ramsden OBE as its new Chief Executive Officer.

She will join the Trust early in 2023.

Mrs Ramsden currently works at Salford City Council as Strategic Director for People, a directorate that includes Children's and Adult Services as well as Public Health.

She began her career as a social worker and held a range of management positions before joining Salford City Council in 2014 as Director of Children’s Services.

The trust is being set up as a result of the slow pace of improvement in Bradford Council’s Children’s Services since the department was judged inadequate in 2018.

It will take over the service in Bradford next year.

Mrs Ramsden is the Immediate Past President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services. In October 2020 Charlotte was awarded the OBE for services to Children’s Services.

She said: “This is an exciting opportunity to build on the green shoots of progress made in children’s services and contribute to the council’s ambition for Bradford District to be a great place to be a child.”

Kersten England, Chief Executive of Bradford Council, said: “With less than six months to go until launch, Charlotte’s appointment comes at an important point in the process. Her wealth of experience and knowledge will help us in the smooth transfer of services and setup of the Trust.”