Newly-established posts include director of children's services and a deputy director who is responsible for education.
'This change is the culmination of many months of planning and we already have staff from health, education and social services backgrounds who are working together to provide excellent frontline services for young people,'
said Councillor Caroline Pidgeon, executive member for children's services and education.
Southwark's nine children's centres will be a key part of this integrated delivery, yet only one of these centres is not run by the council. A voluntary group, 1st Place, runs daycare provision and out-of-school clubs at the Aylesbury estate children's centre.
Provision for children with disabilities and learning difficulties will be expanded with the opening of the 8.5m Southwark Child Development Centre in Camberwell this autumn, intended to provide a one-stop shop for socialising, care, treatment and therapy for children and young people up to age 19.
Assistant director of community services, Mike Smith, said, 'The development of this department will make a big difference to partnership. I think having a children's trust develops much better trust between all of us working together for children's services.'
He added, 'I think the biggest benefit will be that children and parents will experience a more cohesive service and not have to ring around different people to get it.'
