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Published:
16 July 2026
Hillingdon Council has been selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to support improvements in children’s services across other local authorities, a significant national endorsement recognising its own improvement, expertise and leadership.
The council is one of only six authorities designated as a Children's Improvement Team (CIT) provider, placing it among a small group of high performing authorities trusted to support improvement across the children's services sector.
The CIT programme is part of the DfE's sector-led improvement model, where experienced local authorities provide peer challenge, support and knowledge to help improve outcomes for children and families nationally.
The DfE recognised the council’s:
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proven skills and expertise in children's services improvement
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understanding of the challenges facing local authorities
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capability to provide effective peer support and challenge
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strong leadership
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exceptional added value provided through the Director of Children’s Services Adviser-in-Chief role.
The selection recognises Hillingdon’s high quality children's services and provides its leaders and practitioners with an opportunity to contribute to national reform and improvement activity, and access to wider learning, innovation and best practice.
It will also enable further development opportunities for staff through peer support and improvement work.
The next steps will see Hillingdon paired with a local authority this autumn, which it will go on to support for up to two years.
Cllr Susan O’Brien, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, Children, Health and Care, said: “Being chosen as a CIT provider is a significant national achievement for the council and reflects national confidence in our leadership, practice and improvement expertise.
“It positions the council as a contributor to children's services improvement across England and demonstrates that we’re now viewed not only as an authority focused on improving our own services, but also as one capable of influencing and supporting improvement across the wider sector.”