Marion Witton has been appointed Chief Inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate in the Health Information and Quality Authority. 

To date the work of the Social Services Inspectorate has been focused on children in care, primarily on the inspection of children’s residential care. Within the Health Information and Quality Authority its role has been expanded to include the inspection and registration of residential services in the public, private and voluntary sectors for older people (including nursing homes) and people with a disability. The Social Services Inspectorate is also involved in the monitoring of foster care services, day facilities and the inspection of children’s detention centres.

Marion, who has a doctorate in Social Policy, joins the Authority from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in the UK. She has many years experience of regulation of adults and children’s care services and is widely respected within the field.

As the Divisional Manager for the South East Region of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills in the United Kingdom (also known as Ofsted) Early Years Directorate she was responsible for the regulation and inspection of 20,000 children’s day care providers. Prior.to joining Ofsted, Marion was head of the joint inspection unit at the London’s Borough of Barnet, with responsibility for registering and inspecting residential care homes, nursing homes, clinics, independent hospitals, boarding schools and children’s day care services.

In 1994 she became the Chair of the National Heads of Inspection and Registration, a group representing all Inspection Units in England and Wales, with members from each regional group. As a representative of the group, Marion has contributed to major guidance documents, such as “Eating Well for Children under 5 Years”, “Inspecting Social Services” and the Residential Forum’s “Creating a Home from Home”.

She has a strong interest in training issues and has lectured at many courses for Inspectors. Since 2004 she has provided training to nursing home inspectors in Ireland. She has also contributed to a learning pack for a new qualification on regulation at Anglia Polytechnic University.

Commenting on the appointment, Tracey Cooper, CEO of the Health Information and Quality Authority said; “Marion is widely respected for her work in residential care settings and her leadership will be invaluable as the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) undertakes its expanded mandate within the Authority, I’m extremely pleased that Marion is joining us and we are fortunate to be acquiring such skills and experience in one person”.

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Further Information: 

Anne Dalton / Laurie Mannix, MRPA KINMAN Communications 01 678 833