Find out how to become a member of our children’s services peer challenge teams. We are always looking for experienced senior local government officers as well as independent contractors, willing to share their children's services knowledge and learning, to become LGA children's services peers.
Complete our form
The information you provide in the Expression of Interest Form will help us consider your expertise and experience and how that matches the demand and requirements of the council receiving the peer challenge. We regularly review our peer database to ensure we can offer peers with the experience and expertise required by the sector.
We are also committed to ensuring our peers reflect the diversity and creativity of local government and the communities they serve, and therefore especially encourage interest from underrepresented groups. And please ensure that you have your line managers approval to be released to attend the training and for current officers to participate in one peer challenge per year.
What happens next?
We will be in touch to confirm a peer profile with you based on the information you've given us. These profiles are used by us to search for relevant skills and experience required by the council for the peer challenge. If you are matched, our placement team will contact you to check your availability for the dates of the challenge (we ideally work with a 2/3 month notice period). If you are available we then share your profile with the council to ensure they are happy with the proposed peer challenge team. An LGA challenge manager is appointed and they will then work closely with the team to ensure everything is ready. They will be onsite to support you during the challenge and will be responsible for writing the final report.
Training for new children's services peers
We run residential two-day training sessions normally held at Warwick University in their business facilities, with accommodation and meals provided by the LGA. The first part of day one is spent going through the process of a peer challenge, and the remainder of day one and all of day two involves the delegates carrying out a mock peer challenge- with opportunities to engage in a focus group and an interview with a Director of Children’s Services as well as delivering a final presentation. Feedback from previous participants has been very positive.
Member peers
Member peers are involved in a range of peer support activity in addition to peer challenges, including support to new leaders and administrations following a change of control, mentoring and councillor development.
We ask that members interested in being a peer contact the relevant national lead member peer or head of Political Group Office to discuss:
- their experience and expertise
- the current demand for member peers
- the areas where we require more peers.
Conservative [email protected]
Labour [email protected]
Liberal Democrat [email protected]
Independent [email protected]
If you have any queries about becoming a peer and attending a future peer training event you can email or speak to one of the peer placement team: [email protected]