Former council chief exec appointed Interim Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman

A former local authority chief executive has been named the interim Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, ahead of the retirement of Michael King on 31 March.

Paul Najsarek is the former Chief Executive of Ealing Council and was previously acting Chief Executive and Chief Executive of Harrow and Bolton Councils.

With “extensive experience” in both the Ombudsman’s key jurisdictions in local government and adult social care, Najsarek has been appointed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

He will be in post as Ombudsman and chair of the Local Administration for England until the public appointment process for a permanent Ombudsman, run by DLUHC, is concluded in the autumn.

Najsarek said: “I am excited to be joining such an important organisation which has a huge impact on the quality of local government administration across the country and reflects the values of public service that I hold dear.

“The Ombudsman position is a unique role in the local government system and, with my experience in both the local government and social care sectors, I look forward to further developing the great work the organisation carries out.”

Najsarek's other roles have included being the Chief Executive lead for Thrive London, the capital’s initiative to promote mental health wellbeing. He was also Head of Policy at a national regulator and was part of the central government team that drafted 'Every Child Matters' in 2003.

He has led at “national and regional level”, such as for Solace (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives) on health and social care including its COVID-19 response, regeneration for the West London Alliance, and adult services for London councils encompassing the capital’s adult social care response to the pandemic.

Lottie Winson