Spinning plates to improve lives

摘要

Charlotte Ramsden may be officially known as Salford City Council's strategic director of people, but she defines her wider leadership and influencing role across Greater Manchester as one of 'chief plate spinner'. Ms Ramsden was awarded an OBE last month for her work in supporting the development of services for children and young people across Greater Manchester since 2016. The city region's distributed leadership model of working has been 'really important', she tells The MJ, 'because everyone needs to have ownership at a Greater Manchester level'. Across the 10 councils 'our directors of children's services have lead areas where they're a key lead within the Greater Manchester arena. That's really helped because we can't all be doing everything', she says. 'Really, it's been about great team work and people working together. And that shared passion and vision has led to a willingness to invest. For example, in early years we've got a school readiness board, looking at all of that early years pathway to a good level of development at the end of reception year, and how we invest jointly to make that happen to best effect.'