The Appointment Committee met on Thursday 12 February 2026 to consider the shortlisting of candidates for the significant role of Director of Children's Services. The meeting's agenda focused entirely on the appointment process for this senior position.

Appointment of Director of Children's Services

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the shortlisting of candidates for the position of Director of Children's Services. This process involved reviewing applications and considering how candidates met the essential competencies outlined in the Cardiff Council Behavioural Competency Framework. The report pack indicated that the committee would consider candidates against criteria such as Putting our Customers First, Getting Things Done, and Leading Change, among others. The aim was to identify candidates suitable to progress to the next stage of the appointment process.

The role of Director of Children's Services is described as a crucial senior position responsible for delivering excellence in supporting and protecting vulnerable children and families. The post-holder would manage a significant revenue budget of approximately £107 million and contribute to the council's Stronger, Fairer, Greener agenda. The recruitment pack highlighted the importance of leadership across professional boundaries and the ability to drive transformational change. The salary for the role was advertised as £147,524 per annum.

The meeting was scheduled to follow standard procedures, including receiving apologies for absence and declarations of interest, and approving the minutes from the previous meeting on 21 January 2026. A portion of the meeting was designated for the exclusion of the public, as information relating to applicants for employment is considered exempt under the Local Government Act 1972.

The next meeting of the committee was scheduled for 11 March 2026.