Isabelle Trowler was appointed as the government’s first chief social worker for children and families in September 2013. She qualified as a social worker in 1996 and has worked as both a practitioner and senior leader in a variety of local government roles. She chairs the National Practice Group and is currently a member of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel and the Family Justice Board. Isabelle was a founder member of the What Work’s Centre for Children’s Social Care - now known as Foundations. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the children’s sector and has previously contributed to the 2022 Independent review of children’s social care and the government’s response, the development of the statutory children’s social care national framework, a refresh of the post-qualifying standards for child and family social work.

She is currently working closely with the Families First for Children pathfinders and has a particular interest in the national rollout of the multi-agency child protection teams. Isabelle was awarded a CBE in the New Years Honours 2024 for services to children’s social care.