The Trust tasked with running Bradford Council’s children’s services following the tragic death of 16-month-old Star Hobson has gone live.
The Bradford Children and Families Trust was established as part of an improvement plan which was published in January 2022 following a report into the failures in the case of Star Hobson.
Star was killed by her mother’s partner in 2020 after months of physical and psychological abuse. Five family members and friends had raised concerns about her welfare with the authorities in the eight months before she died.
Kersten England, chief executive of Bradford Council, welcomed the establishment of the Trust and described it as a ‘fresh start for the services’.
I want to thank all those who have worked incredibly hard to set up the Trust. I also want to thank all the staff who are transferring to the Trust for all their continuing dedication to the children of this district,’ she said.
‘The Trust will be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Council but also act independently of it. We will however work very closely together, and with our other partners, as we all strive to achieve our shared ambition of delivering the very best services possible to the children and families of our district. I, and everyone at the Council, look forward to forging this new working relationship with the Trust.’