Our friend James Dougan, who has died of cancer aged 57, was a senior manager in children’s social care who brought a commitment to social justice into everything he did. In 2003 the Guardian nominated James as one of 50 “Ones to watch” in the field of public service.
James was the youngest of four children born in Newmains, Lanarkshire, to Michael Dougan, an HGV driver, and Margaret (nee McDougall), a hospital cook.
James first moved to London to study politics and economics at the then North London Polytechnic in 1977. He then went to Aberdeen in 1981 to study for his social work qualification, returning to London in 1983. He became a member of the gay Icebreakers collective, providing an alternative to the commercial scene for gay men new to London. He was involved in running the telephone helpline as well as social events at The Bell in Gray’s Inn Road and discussion groups at Gay’s The Word bookshop. He met his partner, Mark Holton, through Icebreakers in 1984. They finally married in 2014 at Brighton town hall.
As a local authority social worker James worked in Tower Hamlets, Brent, Hammersmith, and Lambeth, before spending two years in the voluntary sector at The Who Cares? Trust. He then moved to Islington council, where he managed fostering, adoption and residential services, eventually becoming an acting assistant director.
After moving to Brighton and Hove in 2002, he commissioned services for children and young people jointly on behalf of the council and primary care trust (PCT). Linking health, education and social care was key, James believed, to preventing vulnerable families falling through the cracks between agencies. James had a gift for unexpected friendships and in his personal and professional life focused on the things people have in common, not what divides us.
Colleagues described James as providing inspirational leadership in children’s services, and as courageous, passionate and determined. Despite being dyslexic, James was a fluent and persuasive communicator.
James is survived by Mark, his sisters, Pearl and Irene, his brother, Billy, and by a wide circle of friends.
