Northumberland County Council’s former service director for adult social care has been honoured in the New Year’s Honours List.   

 

Stephen Holmes has been awarded an MBE for services to adult social care in Northumberland during COVID-19. 

 

Stephen worked for the Council for almost 40 years, specialising in services for older people and people with  disabilities. 

 

Stephen played a pivotal role in the council’s response to COVID-19, chairing the Business Interruption Management Team and ensuring the council was able to continue to provide critical frontline services. 

 

He also worked tirelessly to track down a supply of PPE for care providers, to protect social care staff, the residents, and to ease the pressure on care home providers. 

 

Stephen joined the council in 1981 on a youth opportunities programme supporting people with a learning disability. He went on to become manager of a residential home for older people in Hexham. 

 

His first experience of working with community health came in 2011 when he began to manage Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s community nursing service as part of the integration between health and social care.  

 

In 2014 he become senior lead for end of life care, as well as continuing to lead community nursing and the council’s in-house day services for people with learning disabilities. 

 

In his role as service director for adult social care and deputy director of the Community Services Business Unit at Northumbria Healthcare, he has provided leadership in the development and implementation of community-based health and social care services. 

 

Stephen left the Council in October 2020 after almost 40 years of public service. His dedication has significantly improved the lives of many people who live and work in Northumberland. 

 

Daljit Lally, Chief Executive of Northumberland County Council said: “I have had the pleasure of working with Stephen for many years and I am delighted he has been recognised in this honours list. 

 

“When the pandemic struck Stephen immediately understood the significant impact it would have on adult social care services across our county and he personally led the search to source PPE for social care staff and care providers.   

 

“Having tracked down these vital supplies he spent the Easter weekend helping to distribute desperately needed PPE to our Northumberland care providers. 

 

“Stephen has dedicated his career to looking after and caring for those who need it most and his work will leave a lasting legacy. 

 

I know Stephen's family, friends and colleagues will join me in congratulating him. I am very proud of this achievement.”