The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has appointed a new lead civil servant for adult social care.
Sally Warren has been made director general for adult social care, having held the role on an interim basis since July, following the departure of previous postholder Michelle Dyson.
Warren comes with extensive experience of sector policy, having previously held the post of director of social care in the department and within the Cabinet Office, while she also spent three years as deputy chief inspector for adult social care at the Care Quality Commission.
From 2019-24, she was head of policy at health and social care think tank the King's Fund, and she subsequently led on the development of the government's 10-year health plan for England, published in July this year.
Warren's in-tray includes supporting councils and adult social care services through the coming winter and taking forward implementation of the process for setting so-called fair pay agreements for the sector, which is currently subject to consultation.
She will also be overseeing the work of the Baroness Casey's Independent Commission into Adult Social Care, which is drawing up plans for the long-term reform of the sector, with its first report due next year.
Welcoming Warren's appointment, DHSC permanent secretary Samantha Jones said that her "extensive experience of working across health and care" meant she brought "huge expertise to the role".
