This in from council press office. Ed
A new Director of Community Services will begin work at Isle of Wight Council on 16 August.
Ian Anderson joins the local authority from Lincolnshire County Council where he is the Executive Director for Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing and Supporting People.
Mark Howell, who has been Acting Director of Community Services for over a year and has overseen major changes to social care services such as personal budgets, will become Deputy Director and Head of Housing and Community Development.
Previous experience
During his time at Lincolnshire County Council, Ian Anderson has overseen the authority’s Adult Social Care department turn around from being one of the poorest performing in the UK to ‘performing well’ in 2008/09.
He has also enjoyed similar success with Lincolnshire’s Supporting People service, turning a ‘poor performance’ service into one rated ‘performing well with promising prospects’.
He previously worked at Peterborough City Council as Director of Adult Social Services and led one of the earliest integrations of health and social care services in 2004 where he subsequently become Director of Strategic Commissioning within the Primary Care Trust.
Deep involvement with Personalisation
Ian has also been a member of the national Personalisation Network, where lead directors from all regions come together with the Department of Health, Association of Directors of Adult Services and the Local Government Association and has also contributed to the Directors Associations’ national work in relation to older people.
Looking forward to starting his new role at Isle of Wight Council, Ian said “I am driven by trying to pull together a range of public, voluntary and private sector activities so that they are in touch with the needs and aspirations of the community they serve and work together to have the best impact that they possibly can.
“I judge my success by the differences that are made to people’s quality of life. We all know that we face challenging times over the next few years but I was really impressed by how public services on the Isle of Wight are shaping up to them and look forward to being part of what is going on.
“While I was attracted to the Isle of Wight for what it could offer me professionally, the quality of life was a big factor and a great attraction. I love it already and am really looking forward to enjoying all that it has to offer”
Impressed the interview panel
Steve Beynon, Isle of Wight Council Chief Executive said “The interview panel were all very impressed by Ian and his passionate vision for the future of community and social care services on the Island.
“The whole country is going through difficult times and the Island faces many challenges as we strive to provide the best services for residents. Ian is very excited to be a part of that and we welcome him to the Island.
“We should also highlight the work over the last year by Mark Howell, who has tirelessly led Community Services through very challenging times and his experience will no doubt be very important in supporting Ian in his new role”
Isle of Wight Council Cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Housing Roger Mazillius said “I am very pleased that we have attracted someone with Ian’s immense experience and enthusiasm to head a service which is at the forefront of delivering health and social care needs on the Island.
“There is no doubt this will be particularly challenging in these difficult economic times, which are also influenced by the Island’s demographic status with one of the largest percentage of elderly residents in the country.”
Ian will be moving to the Island with his family.
