New Director of Adult Social Care

Rochdale Borough Council has appointed Sheila Downey as its new Director of Adult Social Care.

In her new role Ms Downey will be working in partnership with the NHS and also be responsible for promoting wellbeing, health and independence for adults of all ages and ensuring the vulnerable are supported.

As part of the council’s executive leadership team Ms Downey will have an important role in delivering their key priorities of regeneration, better housing, more and better jobs, lower crime, and an improved environment.

Ms Downey said she is looking forward to taking on the challenge: “I see my role as making sure that vulnerable people know where to get the help they need to live as independently as possible and to ensure that the health and adult social services provided are good quality and make a real positive difference to people’s lives. I’m absolutely delighted to be offered this opportunity and want to build on the excellent work already being done in the borough."

Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care Councillor Dale Mulgrew said: "I am delighted that Sheila Downey will be joining us and very much look forward to working with her. Sheila brings directly relevant experience from local authority jobs in Derby, Peterborough and Lincolnshire and an exceptional track record in safeguarding and adult protection. She also has an excellent mix of health, voluntary sector and council experience at senior level.”

Roger Ellis, Chief Executive, Rochdale Borough Council said: “We are all pleased to be welcoming Sheila to the borough. This is a very important role within the council and Sheila brings a wealth of experience and a balance of skills and knowledge to help us drive improvements for our residents. We were unanimous in the view that Sheila is an outstanding person for this post and I wish her every success."

Ms Downey is currently Assistant Director of Adult Social Services at Derby City Council, where she has worked for the past 3 years. She is the regional Assistant Director of Adult Social Services lead for NHS continuing healthcare implementation and the Regional Chair of the Safeguarding Adults programme in Derby.

She has worked at senior level for over 15 years, including Assistant Director of the Greater Peterborough Primary Care Partnership ands has also held management positions at North Peterborough Primary Care Trust and Lincolnshire County Council.

Ms Downey, who starts her new role in June, will succeed Jim Wilson who previously held the post on an interim basis.

She currently lives in Nottingham, although she is said to be moving this summer, asked if that meant Ms Downey will be moving to Rochdale, a Council spokesman said: "She is still looking at her options".