Section 144 – Directors of social services
393.Section 144 requires every local authority to appoint a director of social services and provides that two or more local authorities may appoint a director for both or all of those authorities if appropriate. The local authority must ensure the adequate provision of staff to assist the director in delivering his or her functions and the Welsh Ministers must specify the competencies which a potential director must possess in order to be appointed to the post, either by means of a code or in regulations made under the Act. Currently, the competencies a director must possess are contained in guidance issued under section 7A of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970.