Care Manager Receives Special Honour from the Queen
AN EAST-DURHAM-based care manager has been recognised for her services to Nursing in Social Care as part of The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022.
Julie Shield, a registered manager at National Care Group, oversees Abbeyvale Care Centre, which delivers person-centred support for vulnerable individuals with a diverse range of needs in the Hartlepool community.
Julie was one of the first professionals in the adult social care sector to receive a silver Chief Nursing Officer Adult Social Care award from the UK Government, and now she has been commended as part of The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, solidifying her reputation as one of the foremost providers of care in the UK.
Julie said: “I can’t quite put into a words how it feels to receive such an award. Like many, I absolutely love what I do and I feel very lucky to have overseen such rapid changes, investment and progression at Abbeyvale, which has helped to enrich the lives of the individuals we support.
“Adult social care is often described as ‘not the easiest’ of jobs and, of course, we’ve been through a lot these past couple of years. However, I’m truly honoured to have worked with such an incredible team of people that help make my role that much easier to undertake. I’d like to thank the people who put me forward for this really special award
and look forward to continuing to help develop Abbeyvale, and the incredible services it provides to the community.”
During her time at the Hartlepool-based care home, Julie has succeeded in building its capacity from four residents through to its peak at 54.
The registered manager, who grew up in Blackhill Colliery, passed every CQC inspection at Abbeyvale with no faults, and proudly kept the home Covid-free during the height of the pandemic, putting measures in place ahead of government guidance.
Her journey with National Care Group and Abbeyvale began as a care assistant in 2000, before transitioning into her current role in 2009.
James Allen, CEO of National Care Group, said: “Julie embodies our mission to enable the people we support to maximise their potential. She has been completely selfless in the way that she goes about her role, protecting the lives of people during difficult times during the pandemic, and giving Abbeyvale the sense of community it so rightly holds today. We’re all incredibly proud of Julie and thank her for her continued support to all across the group.”
