Appointment of new Deputy Chief Inspector for Care Inspectorate Wales
Kevin Barker took up the role on 19 August 2024.
Kevin was previously Head of Childcare and Play Inspection at the inspectorate.
He takes over from Vicky Poole who retired earlier this month. Vicky had been Deputy Chief Inspector at CIW for ten years, having earlier held the role of Regional Director for North Wales at CIW. We wish Vicky the best of luck in her retirement.
The Deputy Chief Inspector role oversees the everyday delivery of all CIW’s functions in accordance with legislation. Reporting directly to the Chief Inspector, the role involves engaging with people who use services, providers, stakeholder, as well as Welsh Government.
The new Deputy Chief Inspector
Kevin joined the then Social Services Inspectorate for Wales in 2002 and has undertaken a variety of roles, leading on reviews of local authority social services and a temporary role coordinating the work of CIW and partner inspectorates through ‘Inspection Wales’. He was Head of Childcare and Play Inspection from 2018-2024. You can read more about Kevin’s career on the ‘meet the team’ pages of our website.
Commenting on the role, he said:
"I am delighted to take up the role of Deputy Chief Inspector for CIW. It is a privilege to be in a position to help lead a great organisation. As importantly, I look forward to working in partnership with all concerned in social care and childcare – including people who use the services we register and inspect. Only together will we achieve lasting change for the better."
Meanwhile, Ceri Herbert has become Head of Childcare and Play Inspection within CIW.