Immediate: 02 September 2005
Strategic Role for Positive Steps Oldham Chief Executive
Tim Mitchell, Chief Executive of Positive Steps Oldham, has been seconded to Oldham MBC to a key role in developing services for children and young people across the Borough.
Tim has been appointed to a 12-month secondment as Assistant Director (Strategy), based initially within the Education and Culture Department at OMBC.
He will assist in developing the establishment of Children and Young People’s services in the Borough and particularly the creation of a new Children’s Services Department within the Council.
Paul Makin, Interim Executive Director of Children’s Services, said: “Tim’s appointment adds to our momentum and commitment to delivering excellent Children’s Services in Oldham. Having somebody of Tim’s calibre and experience able to assist in steering this venture from the beginning is a great asset and one I am extremely pleased to welcome to Oldham Council.”
Born and educated in West Yorkshire, Tim has been involved in young people’s advice and support services for more than 30 years. After eight years in Kirklees Careers Service he joined Oldham Careers Service as a team manager in 1982.
From 1994 to 1997, as a senior manager in this local authority careers service he was closely involved in developing, here in Oldham, one of the first 13 national ‘pathfinder’ privatised careers service companies.
Appointed as Chief Executive of Oldham Careers Service Partnership in April 1998, he has since overseen the merger of the careers and education-business link companies and the management of a Connexions Pilot in the area from July 2000 – August 2002.
From April 2001 he assumed responsibility for a brand new integrated young people’s service in Oldham – Positive Steps Oldham - which now includes:
- the Connexions Service;
- a range of ‘Personal Development’ Curriculum Support services to schools including the Healthy Schools Standards, Education-Business Links;
- Progress File and Careers Education.
- the Youth Offending Service;
- a Young People’s Substance Misuse Advice and Intervention Service;
- co-ordination of the Drugs and Alcohol and Teenage Pregnancy strategies for Oldham
Tim lives in Oldham and is married with three step-children and two grandchildren.
Speaking about his appointment, he said: “I am delighted to be starting my new role with the Council’s Education & Culture Department to play a key part in implementing the Government’s Every Child Matters: Change for Children strategy in Oldham.
“In the Borough, most children and young people are healthy and stay safe, they contribute positively to their neighbourhoods and communities, they achieve well in education, and progress successfully into work, adult and family life. However, for many this journey into adulthood is not as easy.
“The key challenge is for all the individuals and organisations who work to support children and young people in our Borough to all play their part in narrowing the gap between those who do achieve these outcomes and those who do less well.”
Ends
For further information, contact Andy Swain, Marketing and Information Manager, Positive Steps Oldham, on 0161 621 9321 or Karlie Thompson, Communications Officer, Education and Culture, OMBC, on 0161 911 3514, e-mail karlie.thompson@oldham.gov.uk
