BRADFORD Council has announced that Iain MacBeath will take up the role of Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing in early August.

The current director, Bev Maybury, was due to retire from the post earlier this year - but agreed to stay in the role longer than planned due to the need for stability during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The position is one of the most senior roles in Bradford Council.

Mr MacBeath is currently the Director of Adult Social Services for Hertfordshire County Council, and has worked for that Council for over 11 years.

There he has played a leading role as co-lead of their Sustainability and Transformation Partnership developing an integrated care system in Hertfordshire.

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He is originally from Yorkshire and intends to move north when he takes up the post in early August.

The appointment was announced today, and shortly afterwards Mr MacBeath said: “I’m very pleased to be taking up the role of Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing in Bradford.

"This is a very challenging time for the adult services sector, but Bradford is an exciting, dynamic district and I’m really looking forward to meeting staff and partners and getting to work to meet this challenge and deliver services that make a difference for people across the district.”

Kersten England, Chief Executive of Bradford Council, said: “I am delighted to confirm that we have appointed Iain MacBeath as the new Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing for Bradford Council. We look forward to welcoming Iain when he starts in August.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Bev Maybury for her work with us. We’ve taken a very significant and positive journey in the delivery of adult social services under her leadership.

"I am particularly appreciative of her willingness to stay beyond the time when she expected to leave us. She has played a massive and vital part in leading our response to Covid19 for which I will always be hugely grateful. She will be missed.”

Helen Hirst, chief officer of Bradford District and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group, added: ‘I am delighted at the appointment of Iain MacBeath and I am very confident he will help further strengthen the positive relationship between Bradford Council and the local NHS for the benefit of local residents and patients."