The Children’s Commissioner’s Advisory Board challenges and advises the office and meets four-six times a year.
The Advisory Board, a requirement of the Children and Families Act 2014, is made up of representatives from across children’s and wider sectors.
The Advisory Board advises on how the powers of the Children’s Commissioner can be used to best effect to promote and protect children and young people’s rights, thereby improving outcomes for children and young people in England.
Current membership
The Advisory Board’s current membership is:
Paul Hewitt (Chair)
Dalwardin (Dal) Babu (OBE)
Nick Bent
Dr Tim Coulson
Dr Dougal Hargreaves
Ann Mroz MBE
Natasha Porter OBE
Shammi Rahman
Ed Vainker OBE
Jon Yates
Members are appointed through fair and open competition. Recruitment processes aligned to the Government’s Principles of Public Appointments and Governance Code and vacancies are advertised on the Public Appointments Website. Members must abide by the Nolan principles – the seven principles of public life.
The term of office for members is three years. However, there may be occasions when their terms of office can be extended.
Candidates need not have previous experience of working with children but should demonstrate an interest in policy issues affecting children, particularly the most vulnerable. They must be interested in the role of the Commissioner and able to offer a different perspective on her work.
Advisory Board members do not receive a fee but they are eligible to claim reasonable expenses for travel and subsistence costs necessarily incurred on the Children’s Commissioner’s business.
The Board’s terms of reference and registration of interests can be downloaded below.