C4EO - Structure and partners

C4EO draws on a consortium of core partners: National Children’s Bureau (NCB); National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER); Research in Practice (RIP) and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).

It works closely with a number of other strategic and delivery partners and work is shaped and delivered through close consultation with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS).

Funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), C4EO is led by its Director, Christine Davies CBE. Legal responsibility for the organisation is held by NCB, a registered charity.

Function leads

In addition to the senior management team, there are four function leads, responsible for each of C4EO’s key functions:

Capacity building – led by Dez Holmes, Capacity Building Programme Manager, Research in Practice
Evaluation - led by Ivana La Valle, Director of Research, Evidence and Evaluation, NCB
Knowledge management – led by Sharon O’Donnell, Head of International Information Unit, NFER
Outputs and dissemination – led by Amanda Edwards, Deputy Chief Executive, SCIE

Theme leads and chairs

For each theme an expert has been appointed to help lead professional input. Theme chairs provide further advice and guidance.

More details on Theme leads and chairs.

Programme Board

C4EO’s Director is advised by a Programme Board, which meets quarterly. The Board is made up of all the organisation’s core and strategic partners, together with representatives from key stakeholders including the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), DCSF, the Local Government Association (LGA), Ofsted, NHS Confederation and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE).

User panels

To ensure that its work fully reflects the needs and views of service users, C4EO’s Programme Board is advised by two panels, one made up of children and young people, the other of parents and carers.