Cumberland's Children's Services Boss Has Gone, and a Stand-In Is Taking Over Cumberland Council's Director of Children's Services Leaves His Role
Marra Mode is how we'd tell you this in the Co-op. Switch it off for the straight version.
The man in charge of Cumberland's schools, social care and youth services has left. Someone else is covering for now, and the council says services carry on as normal.
If your family gets help from children's services in Cumberland, or you work in schools or social care, here's a change at the top. The council has confirmed Martin Birch, its director of children and family wellbeing, has left.
That job covers a lot: schools and education, youth justice, early help for families and children's social care, right across Cumberland, including our patch. Mr Birch started in 2023, having come from the same kind of job at Sefton Council on Merseyside. Cumbria Crack says it understands he went suddenly, probably last month.
The council's statement keeps it short: "Cumberland Council can confirm that Martin Birch has left his role as director of children and family wellbeing service." It says "Chris Jones-King will take on responsibility for children and family wellbeing on an interim basis," and that "Our priority remains the continued delivery of high-quality services for children, young people and families." No reason has been given.
For a bit of background, Ofsted rated Cumberland's children's services good overall back in October 2024. When inspectors popped back in March this year, they said the leadership was steady and giving clear direction. But they also found some kids with less urgent needs were waiting too long for help, and told the council to speed up how it responds when people first get in touch and to tighten up how managers keep an eye on cases.
If you've already got a social worker or support in place, nothing the council's said suggests that changes. And if you're worried about a child, you can still raise it through the Cumberland Council website.
Martin Birch, Cumberland Council's director of children and family wellbeing, has left the council. Chris Jones-King is taking on the responsibility on an interim basis.
This is for families who use children's social care, early help or education services in Cumberland, and for people who work in them. The council has confirmed that Martin Birch has left his role as director of children and family wellbeing.
The post covers education, youth justice, early intervention and children's social care across the council area, which includes Workington, Whitehaven, Maryport, Cleator Moor and Egremont. Mr Birch took up the job in 2023, after serving as director of children's services at Sefton Council. Cumbria Crack reports it understands his departure was sudden and that he is believed to have left last month.
In a statement, Cumberland Council said: "Cumberland Council can confirm that Martin Birch has left his role as director of children and family wellbeing service." It added: "Chris Jones-King will take on responsibility for children and family wellbeing on an interim basis. Our priority remains the continued delivery of high-quality services for children, young people and families." The council has not given a reason for his departure.
For background, in October 2024, Ofsted rated Cumberland's children's services good overall at their first full inspection since the council was formed. A focused visit in March 2026 found leaders continued to provide stability and clear direction. It also said some children with less urgent needs waited longer than they should for support, and asked the council to improve how quickly its front door services respond and the quality of management oversight.
If you already have a social worker, early help worker or school support in place, nothing in the council's statement suggests that changes. Concerns about a child can still be raised through the Cumberland Council website.