Andy Smith, Derby City Council's Strategic Director for People's Services, knows the care system firsthand – a journey that profoundly shaped his career and his commitment to vulnerable children.
As well as his role at the Council, Andy was the 2024/2025 president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services for 2024/25, and was recently appointed a CBE in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours, for his services to disadvantaged and vulnerable children.
Andy’s urging anyone with care experience to take part in the Care Experienced SurveyOpens in new tab on Let’s Talk Derby, to directly shape a better future for young people in the city.
Here, Andy shares his own experiences…
As Derby City Council’s Strategic Director for People’s Services and a proud social worker for 30 years, I want to take a moment to reflect on my own journey into social work.
My route into this profession felt natural and deeply personal. I was once a child in care myself, adopted by my foster carers just before my 11th birthday. My parents were foster carers for well over 30 years and I was used to social workers visiting the house throughout my life. The relationship I had with my social worker was hugely influential in my decision to join the profession.
I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact social workers have on children’s lives, and I believe this work is truly about people and relationships. Too often, the care system is viewed through a deficit lens, but in Derby, our social workers, family help practitioners, children, and families tell a different story — one of hope, resilience, and positive change.
That’s why I’m encouraging everyone with care experience to take part in the current Care Experienced Survey, running until 31 July. Your voice matters. Sharing your experience helps us understand what’s working and where we need to improve, so we can continue to make a real difference across Derby.
Derby City's Council's extensive support for children in care and care leavers was highlighted by Ofsted following an inspection of the authority's Children's Services. Inspectors praised the services as 'responsive and effective,' and rated them outstanding across all the areas assessed.
In September 2024 the full Council voted unanimously to award care experienced people in Derby ‘protected characteristic’ status, a motion that represents a positive step towards supporting them in overcoming these barriers. The Care Experienced Survey will collect feedback from people with experience of growing up in the care system.
The results of the survey on Let’s Talk Derby will help develop and implement the Care Experienced Protected Characteristic, which means those who are in care, who are care leavers, or who have had a past experience of care, will have the same protection from discrimination as other characteristics under the Equality Act in Derby.
The survey is available online at Let’s Talk DerbyOpens in new tab and is open until Thursday 31 July. Anyone who would like to receive the survey in paper form, another language or different format like large print or easy read, contact the team on 01332 64000 or email letstalkderby@derby.gov.uk.