Heroes of 2025: Olivia Ives, Northamptonshire Children’s Trust

Libby Caulfield and I are nominating Olivia Ives, Assistant Director for the Corporate Parenting Service in Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, as hero of the year. Olivia has led the Circle to Success programme since its inception, ensuring children’s needs are fully understood and central to care planning so that every child is in the right home and receiving the right support for their needs. From devising the programme’s original goals to tirelessly championing it with staff, partners and care providers, Olivia has been integral to its success.

Under her leadership, the programme has achieved over 130 positive outcomes for children in – and on the edge of care, while strengthening financial resilience.

We think Olivia should be recognised not only for what the programme has achieved but her dedication to the development of her service and teams, leading with real compassion, and strongly advocating for innovation that delivers better outcomes for children in care.