New Directions says farewell to longest-serving employee

New Directions says farewell to longest-serving employee

Staff and service users at Sefton’s leading adult social care provider have said farewell to the organisation’s longest-serving employee.

Julia Abram from High Park in Southport retired from New Directions this week after completing 42 years’ service with the organisation.

Julia’s involvement with what was then Sefton Council’s Adult Care Department began as a teenage volunteer, before she was appointed as a part-time Care Assistant at Brookdale Residential Home in Ainsdale in 1976.

Over the subsequent four decades she was promoted regularly, eventually becoming a member of the New Directions senior management team, most recently as Policy Development Manager.

Along the way, she managed a number of care services, helped the organisation to obtain Investors in People status and played a key role in quality and compliance issues.

Julia says that although she is sad to be leaving New Directions after such a long career, she is looking forward to spending more time with her husband Brian, family and friends.

She is also planning to become a ‘lady who lunches’, and to rekindle her love of singing by joining a choir in Southport.

Julia commented: “During my time at New Directions I’ve met and worked with some amazing people among the staff, the service users and their families. I will really miss seeing them regularly, but I do plan to keep in touch with as many as I can.

“I’ve always found the organisation to be very supportive – especially when I was ill a few years ago – and I would like to pay tribute to all our staff who do such a great job of caring for some of the most vulnerable members of the community.”

Julia’s colleagues and friends gathered for a farewell celebration this week at the New Directions Chase Heys service in Southport.

Managing Director, Bob McDonald, said: “Julia has done a fantastic job for New Directions over more than 40 years, and has been a tremendous ambassador for the care profession throughout her career.

“It’s the end of an era for the organisation, but as Julia leaves New Directions she can look back with pride on her numerous achievements. We wish her a long, happy and healthy retirement.”

See also

https://www.otsnews.co.uk/iends-of-brookdale-celebration-time/