BURY Council has appointed a new independent safeguarding chair for children and adults.

Kathy Batt has been appointed the new independent joint chair of Bury Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and Bury Adult Safeguarding Board.

Ms Batt has taken over from Sharon Beattie who left after two years in the post.

She said: "Although a Londoner I have lived in Greater Manchester since 1977 and have always worked in the region, apart from a few brief months in Bromley when I made the grave mistake of thinking that a move south would be a good idea!

"I am very excited to have been appointed as the independent chair for Bury’s adult and children’s safeguarding boards.

"As usual there is great change afoot, especially for the children’s board with the expected implementation of the Children and Social Care Act 2017 and the establishment of the new safeguarding partnerships.

"The great task and privilege of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults has not been made any easier with the financial restrictions faced by all the agencies involved and by the constant need to respond to rising demand and change.

"However, I look forward to contributing to and working with representatives from all the agencies and also with the children, families and adult services users in Bury to ensure that the processes and practice in Bury are as good as they can be and are resilient enough to face all the challenges which the future may bring."

Ms Batt qualified as a social worker in 1982 and worked in a local authority with children and adults, covering every type of case from child protection through to adult mental health, becoming an Approved Social Worker under the Mental Health Act.

She then worked at Manchester Royal Infirmary as a hospital social worker before returning to field work and specialising in child care, particularly child protection. She became a senior manager working in safeguarding and overseeing quality assurance in both Safeguarding and the Looked After Children system.

In 2001 Ms Batt moved to the voluntary sector and worked in the executive teams of three charities helping to deliver services including adoption, fostering and residential care.

In March 2016 she left full-time work to concentrate on consultancy work.

Pat Jones-Greenhalgh, the council's interim chief-executive appointed Ms Batt following an interview process which included Greater Manchester Police and the NHS.

Mrs Jones-Greenhalgh said: "We are delighted to have appointed someone with Kathy’s extensive experience of safeguarding, and I am absolutely sure she will provide excellent leadership in helping to keep our vulnerable children and adults from harm."