Cabinet Office announces new Head for Social Exclusion Task Force
22 November 2006
CAB/068/06
Naomi Eisenstadt has been appointed the Director of the newly created
Social Exclusion Task Force in the Cabinet Office.
The former Chief Adviser on Children's Services at the Department for
Education and Skills (DfES) will take up her post on 1 December.
Naomi will be charged with coordinating social exclusion policy
across-government, overseeing delivery of the Social Exclusion Action Plan,
recently launched by the Prime Minister and Hilary Armstrong. Naomi will
also be tasked with ensuring the needs of the most excluded are addressed
within the ongoing Comprehensive Spending Review.
Longer term, Naomi will work with the Taskforce to develop a 10-year
review, reporting to the Cabinet Minister for Social Exclusion Hilary
Armstrong.
Welcoming Naomi's appointment, Hilary said:
‘I am delighted at Naomi's appointment because of the vast experience
she brings to this position.
‘Naomi made an outstanding contribution at Sure Start where she was
responsible for the successful roll-out of the programme now reaching
thousands of children. Naomi brings valuable expertise to this role as we
seek to bring high quality, evidence-based interventions to the most
vulnerable.
‘She also brings strong relationships with stakeholders from the third
sector, local government and Whitehall - all essential partners in
delivering better outcomes for the most at risk and excluded.’
Naomi said:
‘I am delighted and privileged to be working at the centre of government
in the Cabinet Office to help improve the lives of the most vulnerable
families.
‘There is more to be done on earlier identification and support for those
at risk of deep-rooted exclusion. People suffering complex problems need
a holistic approach that requires contributions from a range of agencies.
As Director of the Taskforce I will coordinate the services of different
departments to achieve better outcomes.
‘Working alongside the Office of the Third Sector in Cabinet Office also
means we can increase the choice and style of services available ensuring
that those who need our help are able to speak out and ask for what they
think is most appropriate.’
Notes to editors
Naomi Eisenstadt CB will
take up her post in the Cabinet Office on the 1 December 2006.
Naomi Eisenstadt has a long history of working in the social policy, mainly
on children's services. Having gained a Bachelor's Degree in
Sociology and a Credential in Early Childhood Education from the University
of California, she came to Britain in 1974, and worked in nurseries in
Edinburgh and then Milton Keynes.
In Milton Keynes she established Moorland Children's Centre and was
involved in developing early years services in the new town. She has worked
for the Open University, NCVO, Save the Children, and Family Service Units.
More recently she has been the Director of the Sure Start, Extended Schools
and Families Group in the Dept for Education and Skills, which
includes the Government's policy and delivery on services for young
children, extended schools and parenting policy.
For the past year Naomi has been the Secretary of State's Chief Adviser
on Children's Services at the DfES. In this role she has
been advising Ministers across the full range of Every Child Matters
policy, and developing new approaches to the improvement of front line
children's services. She takes up the post of Director, Social
Exclusion Task Force at the Cabinet Office in December. She is also a
non-executive director of a primary care trust.
In 2002 Naomi was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Open University
for services to families and children. She was awarded a CB in the 2005 New
Year's Honours List.
Cabinet Office
Press Office
70 Whitehall
LONDON SW1A 2AS
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
