Martin Birch is a leader in children’s services, currently serving as the Director of Children and Family Wellbeing at Cumberland Council. In this role, he holds statutory responsibility as the Director of Children’s Services (DCS), overseeing early intervention, youth justice, education, and children’s social care across the region.
Martin chairs both the Safeguarding Board and the Early Help Partnership Board in Cumberland, driving multi-agency collaboration across statutory and non-statutory services for children and families. His leadership is dedicated to delivering high-quality, inclusive support that enhances the health and wellbeing of children, young people, and families across Cumberland.
Martin is committed to prioritising early intervention as a core principle within Children’s Services and has focused service priorities on identifying and addressing emerging needs at the earliest opportunity, with the aim to prevent escalation, reduce demand for statutory services, and improve outcomes for children and families.
Before joining Cumberland Council in 2023, Martin held senior roles including Executive Director of Children’s Social Care and Education at Sefton Council, and Director of Children’s Social Care at Together for Children. His career spans various local authorities including Sunderland City Council, North Tyneside, Cumbria, Blackpool and Oxfordshire, reflecting a deep commitment to public service.
Martin is a graduate of Oxford Brookes University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, highlighting both his academic foundation and professional recognition. He is known for championing safe working practices, integrated commissioning, and strategic transformation of services. Under his leadership, Cumberland Council has made strides in areas such as improvement in safeguarding children, family reunification for children in care, and improving the Ofsted outcome for Children’s Services as a whole, whilst responding to increasing complexity in service demands.
Outside of work, Martin has contributed to community initiatives, including serving as a Welfare Officer and Committee Member for the Helm Hill Fell Running Club.
Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.
Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.
Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.
Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.
Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.
Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.
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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.
Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.
Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.
Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.
Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.
Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.
Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.
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