Baroness Pitkeathley to retire as Cafcass Chair

The five year term of the Cafcass Chair, Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, will come to an end in December 2008.

Baroness Pitkeathley, a Labour peer, has been Chair of Cafcass for five of its eight years and is accredited with having stabilised the organisation.

In 2005 she took on the role of Chair of the Home Office Advisory Panel on Futurebuilders. Baroness Pitkeathley is currently President of Volunteering England, Community Council for Berkshire and The Prostate Cancer Charity. She is Vice President of Carers UK and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

In 2006 she won the Charity Awards' Outstanding Achievement Award, for her outstanding contribution to excellence in charities.

Baroness Pitkeathley said: "It has been a huge honour to be Chair of Cafcass at such a key stage of its development although it has certainly been challenging. I have every confidence that Cafcass will continue the tremendous progress we have made and meet our shared ambition of delivering high quality services to the children and families with whom we work.

"It has been a privilege to be involved with such a unique organisation and dedicated staff, and with such an experienced and committed Board. While there is still much to do, we now have a strong platform from which further progress can be made. I shall miss Cafcass very much and will always watch the progress of the organisation with the greatest of interest."