One of North Yorkshire Council’s most senior officers - Stuart Carlton - has spoken of his pride and paid tribute to his colleagues after being given a knighthood in the New Year Honours.
The council’s corporate director for the children and young people’s service has been awarded the honour for his work and dedication in a career spanning 35 years.
Mr Carlton, who joined the council in his current role in 2017, said he had been shocked but felt “extremely privileged” to be given the honour for services to children, young people and families.
He added: “I’m still in shock really, I just never expected that such a thing could happen. It’s a huge honour and I feel very humbled to receive it.
“Like all these awards, it’s built on a long career of service and the hard work and dedication of many other people that I have been truly privileged to work alongside. I thank each and every one of them.”
The citation for the award has highlighted Mr Carlton’s work both in North Yorkshire and on a national stage.
Mr Carlton played an integral role in North Yorkshire Council being the lead authority in the Strengthening Families, Protecting Children programme, which has since been rolled out nationally.
The programme is aimed at enabling children to stay at home in safe and stable family environments so that fewer young people need to be taken into care.
During his time with North Yorkshire Council, Mr Carlton has led the service to secure two consecutive “outstanding in all areas” reports from the inspection of local authority children’s services, the only area in the country to have achieved this.
He has also been on the national Association of Directors of Children’s Services for nine years, serving as an elected director and honorary treasurer.
And he has been a sector improvement lead for more than a decade in Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire, helping to support other local authorities to improve their services as well as advising the Department for Education.
Mr Carlton was also a member of the design team for the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care which led to significant policy and legislation change for the sector.
Harrogate care home donates £1,000 to charity battling loneliness
Builders unearth medieval well in Ripon city centre
Knaresborough teacher to run London Marathon in aid of Henshaws
Drugs seized and two arrested in Knaresborough
Spiegeltent returns to Harrogate for summer extravaganza
Starbeck festival set to return for third year
Police appeal to locate Harrogate fuel thief
Harrogate MP set to take on London Marathon in aid of colitis charity
Expansion could add £17m to northern economy, says Harrogate Spring Water
New café to open in place of Hoxton North this week
Ripon vintage tractor run to return this weekend
Ladies lunch event raises £25,000 for Yorkshire children's hospice
Yorkshire Baby & Toddler Show Returns
Lightwater Valley officially opens 'epic' new rollercoaster
Three Harrogate boxers scoop medals at international tournament
Harrogate woman's stroke at 37 inspires fundraising drive for vital charity
Harrogate MP calls for bus and rail fares to be slashed
Kittens with rare condition 'thriving' after community donates £1,000
Weather warning for strong winds issued ahead of Easter weekend
North Yorkshire Police to roll out facial recognition technology
