Former Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) president James Bullion has joined the Board of Skills for Care.

Bullion has been executive director of adult social services in Norfolk since January 2017 where he has developed and transformed services in a department responsible for spending almost £1 million a day to improve the lives of vulnerable adults in the county.

 Prior to that he had been director of adult operations at Essex County Council where he oversaw some major developments in the fast-moving world of adult social care, including the implementation of the Care Act and a new case management system.

Bullion served as ADASS president in 2020, and is also the ADASS national director lead for social care and justice, and the regional ADASS lead for workforce and leadership development.

Skills for Care chair John Coughlan said: “We are delighted that James has agreed to become one of our Trustees as he is an influential voice in our sector based on decades of frontline experience as a leader and practitioner.

“James has a track record of innovative thinking about how we tackle the significant challenges facing adult social care and he was a hugely respected ADASS president.

“He has always spoken up for the social care workforce in what is a pivotal time for our sector.”

 Bullion, who will join the Skills for Care Board at their October meeting, said: “I am really pleased to be joining the Skills for Care Board as a Trustee, as part of such a talented and respected group of colleagues.

“Skills for Care is the key organisation speaking up for the workforce in social care, hugely respected for its analysis and support. As social care is reformed over the next 10 years, workforce is the critical factor that will determine its success and better outcomes for people served by social care.”