Innovate Services is delighted to announce the appointment of Sir Martin Narey as a non-executive member of its board to perform in an advisory role.

Commenting on his appointment, Managing Director of Innovate Services, Emma Blakemore, said:

“The appointment of Sir Martin Narey represents an important milestone for Innovate Services as we continue to promote innovation within children’s SEND and social care.

“Sir Martin Narey has extensive experience working with the Government on many landmark transformation projects within criminal justice and social care. His dynamic approach in strengthening public sector services will be of great value to us as we continue to collaborate with local authorities across the UK.”

Following his career as a Prison Governor, and with a strong appetite for penal reform, Sir Martin Narey has held several prominent Home Office advisory and criminal justice roles since the 90s.

Between 1998 and 2003 he held the most senior position within the Prison Service. Firstly, as Director General of the Prison Service, and then as the first CEO of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). During his time at NOMS, he received The UK Chartered Institute of Management’s Annual Gold Medal for Leadership. He was the first public sector recipient of the annual award for over ten years.

In his diaries, ex MP and author Chris Mullin describes him as “decent, humane, level-headed. We couldn’t hope to find a better man to put in front of the nation’s jails.”

His interest and transition into social care started when he accepted the role of Chief Executive of Barnardo’s in 2005, where he remained for five years. During his time at Barnardo’s, he chaired The Campaign to End Child Poverty, and saw Barnardo’s grow by almost 40% to become, once again, the UK biggest children’s charity.

His departure from the charity in 2011, saw him focus his attention on social care, and in particular, adoption on which he advised the Prime Minister and Department for Education. Since then, he has continued to act as an advisor to the Government on a range of children’s social care issues.

With a strong understanding of frontline pressures, he has published reports about the training of children’s social workers, residential care for children and, most recently the fostering system in England (2018).

Commenting further on his appointment, Emma Blakemore added:

“Sir Martin Narey has an extraordinary amount of experience in managing change. He regularly speaks on the struggle of leadership, particularly leadership during adversity, which resonates with many of our local authority partners.

“I have no doubt that he will play a pivotal role at Innovate Services as we expand our service offering.”