Dr Caroline Dowson has over thirty years’ experience in children’s services within local authorities in both strategic and operational roles. Her expertise ranges from early help services through to safeguarding systems as well as managing an early year’s special educational needs team. Holding a PhD, Caroline was Vice Principal of an FE college, and has a background in supporting maintained and independent educational institutions to reduce inequalities.
Caroline has deep experience of partnership working across the care sector. She spent five years with the Connexions service improving young people’s levels of participation in education, training, and employment. Prior to joining IPC in 2022, she worked for a safeguarding children partnership. This entailed working with local authorities, the police and health on the implementation and development of new children’s safeguarding arrangements.