CITY of York Council has appointed new corporate directors in senior child care and health roles.

Amanda Hatton, former director of Children’s Services at Lancashire County Council, has been appointed as York's new corporate director for Children, Education and Communities.

A qualified social worker, her previous work has seen her deal on a national level with ministers and national bodies including the Social Work Taskforce and the national Children's Improvement Board.

Sharon Houlden is the council's new corporate director for Health, Housing and Adults Social Care. Currently the director of adult services and housing at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Sharon will start with the council in the New Year.

In her current role, Sharon has developed partnerships with local organisations and residents, and brought new schemes to adult social care and social housing to increase community engagement and raise awareness.

Council leader Ian Gillies said: "These are two excellent appointments for the council and the city. Both come with a raft of experience and were very impressive candidates with a passion for improving lives in the city. They will join two directorates that are doing some amazing work.

"Our Children’s, Education and Communities teams are making a real difference to the lives of young people and our residents, with its work being recognised as outstanding by Ofsted. We remain committed to making York one of the best places in the country to grow up. Our Health, Housing and Adult Social Care team are currently transforming the way we support residents through our future focus programme, our gold standard homelessness service and our work to roll out our older persons’ accommodation project and hundreds of affordable homes."

Deputy leader, Cllr Andrew Waller, said: "I would like to thank Maxine Squire and Michael Melvin, doing an excellent job in ensuring the Directorates have being running very effectively and will continue to do so until the new appointments are in place. I look forward to Amanda and Sharon continuing this fantastic work as we strive to make York an even better place to live for people young and old."

Amanda said: "I am really excited to be moving to York and I hope to continue the amazing work being done by staff across the city. I am looking forward to starting and will be working to make sure that York is one of the best places in the country to grow up and that wherever possible children are leading happy, healthy lives."

Sharon said: "With the older persons’ accommodation programme and Talking Point service well under way it is an exciting time to be joining City of York Council. I am looking forward to taking these programmes further forward and looking at solutions to the challenges faced in adult social care nationally, so we help as many people as possible to live happily and independently."