Jackie Ross, Interim SEND Strategic Director, has decided to move on from Devon County Council (DCC) and Kellie Knott will be joining the council to lead the SEND service at the end of July 2023.
Julian Wooster, Interim Director of Children and Young People’s Futures, said:
“I’d like to thank Jackie for her tireless work over the last year and more on stabilising the SEND service and, most importantly, our relationships with families. I know she has worked hard to support everyone working in the SEND arena, especially the 0-25 team, and stayed with us for a year longer than she originally planned.
“Kellie is already aware of our SEND improvement work, and is working with Jackie over the next few weeks ahead of taking up post. I’m confident this arrangement will ensure a smooth handover and provide consistent leadership.”
Jackie Ross said:
“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has worked with me since I came last year. It has been a real privilege.
I am proud of the work we have done together – but I know there is a significant a way still to go in relation to the impact on the lives of our children, young people and families which you are working so hard towards.”
Kellie Knott will rejoin DCC on a one-year secondment on 31 July 2023. Kellie has worked in children’s services for over 14 years. She is currently the Head of Vulnerable Children’s Unit (South West) for the Department for Education, where she leads the team responsible for working with local authorities to drive up the performance of children’s social care and SEND services.
Kellie Knott said:
“I am really pleased to be returning to Devon County Council and am looking forward to working with partners, particularly parents and carers, to improve the experiences of children and young people with SEND, and their families. I’ll be bringing back my experiences of working with a range of local authorities to improve children’s services, and I hope this will make a real and tangible difference to Devon’s SEND services. Every child and young person with SEND should find Devon a great place to live, learn and grow up.”