From 2012 to 2013, he served as chair of The Portman Group Independent Complaints Panel, overseeing complaints into the naming, packaging, promotion and sponsorship of alcoholic drinks in the UK, and from 2013 to 2019 he served as chair of Portman Group itself.[7]
From 2011 to 2017, he also served as a board member of the Advertising Standards Authority.[8]
From 2001 to 2013 he was the Government's Advisor on Adoption and his advice, based on an independent report commissioned by The Times,[9] led to adoption becoming one of the UK Government's domestic priorities. [citation needed] He summarised the reforms for The Guardian in July 2012.[10]
In February 2013 it was announced that he was taking on a wider role, advising Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education on children's social care.[11]
Views
Narey believes some social workers do not do enough to prevent child abuse. Narey stated, “Social workers do an outstanding job generally, but some of them need to have more scepticism when they’re dealing with parents who are manipulative and deceitful.” Narey also stated, “One of the flaws is that everyone believes that taking a child into care is a negative step. Because the children in care are, for example, performing badly educationally. But that’s just a profound misunderstanding of what’s happening. Those children do badly in education and other areas because they’ve been neglected at home. The evidence shows that for children who are in need, care has a positive effect...”[12]
Honours
Narey was knighted in the 2013 New Year's Honours 'for services to vulnerable people'.[13]
