The government has appointed its first director general for children and families, it was announced on Monday.

Tom Jeffrey will advise education secretary Charles Clarke and children's minister Margaret Hodge as the head of a new directorate.

His role will include delivering the changes set out in the government's green paper, Every Child Matters, published in response to the death of Victoria Climbie.

The appointment now completes the top management team at the DfES.

The board now comprises of the permanent secretary, four director generals for the areas of children and families, schools, lifelong learning and of higher education, as well as members for strategy and communications, corporate services and finance.

An additional five members were appointed from outside the civil service, along with two non-executive directors.

"I am honoured and thrilled to have been offered this appointment," said Jeffrey.

"We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure lasting change for children and families.

"I look forward to working with ministers and colleagues across government, in children's services and in the voluntary sector to make a reality of the vision set out in the recent green paper."

Jeffrey has worked in the civil service since 1981, when he joined the Department for Education and Science.

Since then, he has served as principal private secretary to then-education secretary Kenneth Baker, as director of children's services in the Department of Health, and has led work on low achievement and behaviour at the Department for Education and Skills.

His appointment was welcomed by permanent secretary David Normington.

"I am delighted that Tom Jeffrey is to be the first director general for children and families in the Department for Education and Skills," he said.

"His appointment is another important step towards delivering truly integrated services to both children and families and realising the direction outlined in the government's recent green paper on children, Every Child Matters.

"Tom's experience in the fields of social care and education policy will be a major resource to the government as we pursue this agenda."