Our Governance

Caring

Inspiring

Empowering

New Directions was formed in January 2007 and is wholly owned by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council. The organisation is governed by a Board of Directors with strong backgrounds in social care, health, local authority, and business.

The role of the New Directions’ board is to contribute and drive the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring the company remains financially sustainable, whilst meeting the needs of the people and families its supports, providing high-quality services.

Our Board Directors

Dil Daly

Chair

Sandra Palmer

Non-Executive Director

Councillor Judy Hardman

Non-Executive Director

Glen Williams

Union Observer (Non-Voting Capacity)

John Graham

Non-Executive Director

Councillor Dave Neary

Non-Executive Director

Paul Cummins

Non-Executive Director

Our Senior Leadership Team

Mark Fox

Managing Director

Andrea Woods

Head of Operations

Adam Drury

Head of HR

David Lill

Finance Manager

Paul Sheron

Head of Learning and Development

Our Executive Senior Leadership Team

Mark Fox

Managing Director

Andrea Woods

Head of Operations

Adam Drury

Head of HR

David Lill

Finance Manager

Paul Sheron

Head of Learning and Development

Adam Drury

I have worked in adult social care for over 20 years. My background is in Human Resources and in 2008 I was outsourced from Sefton MBC to a private company called Arvato. During my time with Arvato I registered for an in-house management development programme and gained a range of new skills in a variety of areas to enable me to progress my career. This involved extensive training in project management, general business and mentoring by various senior managers across the Company. The transition from working in the public sector to the private sector was challenging, however it was a real ‘eye-opener’ in terms of how commercial companies operate. I changed job roles during this time and moved into project management. This was a very interesting job role and I was able to work on several exciting world-wide projects, travel to different places and meet new people. This exposure helped me to gain a wider understanding of the daily operations of a multi-national organisation. I was very grateful for the opportunities provided by Arvato and I was able to complete a master’s degree in Human Resource Management in 2014.

I joined New Directions in November 2016 and I was fortunate that I had some pre-established relationships from my time in Sefton MBC. This enabled me to hit the ground running as I already had a good understanding of the services provided and the challenges we faced. When appointed as the HR Manager for New Directions, I worked very closely with the Operations Team to gain more in-depth knowledge of the services we provide. In March 2021 I applied for a post as Operations Manager and I was delighted to be appointed. The reason I changed job roles, apart from a new challenge, was that I felt I could have a bigger influence on the Company in this team and that I could potentially enhance our services for the better. In the limited time I was in Operations I feel as though I achieved aspects of this and was heavily involved with the ‘recovery’ of several key services. The relationships I established during this time remain strong and I will sincerely miss most aspects of the job.

I have recently been appointed as Interim Head of HR and given my time in Operations; I believe I am well-placed to implement the Company’s strategic objectives. With my understanding of Operations, plus my extensive HR experience I aim to deliver a responsive and customer-focussed HR service to all in New Directions. I will be working closely with all services to ensure HR solutions implemented meet our immediate and future requirements.

To say I love the work we do in New Directions would be an understatement. To have the ability to enrich someone’s daily life is not something you can put a price on. I am passionate about our company, our values and the people we support.

No one could have predicted what has happened across the world in the previous two years and I am immensely proud of the way we have responded to the pandemic. Hopefully, brighter days are ahead as lockdown restrictions have subsided and we can return to some form of normality.

On a personal note, I am a passionate Liverpool FC supporter and enjoy playing and watching various sports. I also participate in a range of outdoor activities, but with these limited during lockdown I turned my hand to gardening. I find this a very therapeutic activity that enables me to switch off from the outside world. I also appreciate the reward of the hard work later in the year when the flowers, vegetables and fruits make all the physical work of gardening worthwhile. Sharing the fruit and veg amongst family and friends has whet the appetite for some of them to start gardening.

David Lill

I am a Management Account (ACMA) with twenty-plus years of qualified experience working in a variety of commercial and not-for-profit organisations. I joined Sefton New Directions after spending three years heading up the finance function of the Brothers of Charity Services in Lancashire, another provider of essential Adult Care Services operating for the benefit of the residents in Chorley and beyond.

Previously I have worked with Knowsley MBC within its Sure Start Programme (aimed at improving the well-being of children aged four and under and their families) and, for six years with Liverpool Vision Ltd, the City’s Urban Regeneration Company, tasked with leading the City’s physical transformation in the new millennium. I worked there at a time of unprecedented progress – a period which saw the huge Capital of Culture programme in 2008 and the funding and opening of the Arena and Conference Centre among many notable successes.

Other positions included commercial roles working within the Chemicals industry in Runcorn and almost ten years as Financial Controller with the largest independent Reprographics companies in the country.

I aim to bring the combination of expertise and experiences gained to help New Directions become the provider of choice within Sefton.

As a resident of Sefton, and after hearing of the excellent reputation and seeing the good work undertaken, I jumped at the opportunity to work with the talented Senior Management Team leading finance here at New Directions.

I join (December 2022) at a time of unprecedented challenges with the need to match excellent care and the support of some of our most vulnerable adults with budget constraints caused by pressures on our main funding partner (Sefton MBC) and rising staff and other costs caused by inflation.

However, against this challenging backdrop, I believe in the organisation’s core values: – People Focused, Big Hearted, Count on Us, Together as One and its desire to become the provider of choice and will work tirelessly to ensure the continued success of the organisation.

I lead a small but dedicated and experienced Finance Team but, just as importantly, want to be a visible member of the whole organisation, partnering with colleagues to help maximise funding and offering advice and expertise as required.

Away from work, I am a family man, with one teenage son and whilst I enjoy travelling, I can often be found on a Sunday morning cycling the paths and tracks of our borough and beyond. That, of course, assumes no home game and as a season ticket holder at Anfield (following in the steps of my father and grandfather who were born and raised in Bootle and were passionate football supporters since pre-war times) attend all home games of Liverpool FC.

expand the role of the organisation.

Paul Cummins

Cllr Paul Cummins has been Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care for the past eight years. He has represented Church Ward (Waterloo and Seaforth) as a local Labour Party Councillor between 1992 and 2003, and from 2006 until present. In the Municipal year 2011/12 he was honoured to be the Mayor of Sefton.

Paul holds a number of positions for Sefton in addition to his Cabinet role. He is Sefton’s Mental Health Champion and Older Person’s Champion. He is a member of the Health and Wellbeing Board, Co-Chair of the Transforming Care Partnership Board for people with Learning Disabilities, Deputy Chair of the Corporate Parenting Board, Chair of the Special Education Needs and Disabilities Continuous Improvement Board, Chair of the Adults Forum, Chair of the Dementia and Carers Strategy Groups, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Health and Social Care Portfolio Holders Group, and a member of the Sefton Coastal Partnership Board. In addition, he is a Local Authority appointed School Governor at St Edmund and St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, and Rimrose Hope Church of England Primary School, where he has been Chair of Governors over many years.

Away from Sefton Council, Paul is a Non-Executive Director at Primary Care 24 (Merseyside), and a Trustee/Director at Sefton Council for Voluntary Service, Waterloo Community Association and Waterloo Town Team. Paul had an extensive career in teaching, social care and community safety and is now retired from full-time employment, having been a Senior Manager in the voluntary sector and local government, having worked for Nugent, National MIND, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Sefton Carers Centre in addition to working for himself as a Consultant and Trainer, including working for Futurebuilders England. Paul was educated at St Mary’s College, Crosby, Liverpool John Moore’s University, Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Paul is married to Carol, who has worked extensively as a Manager in Adult Social Care, for many years for Sefton Council, and currently Halton Borough Council. They have three grown up children and nine grand children who keep them busy. Paul is an avid birdwatcher, lover of real ale, ardent Liverpool Football Club fan, and is active in his Church.

Paul acts as Sefton Council’s Shareholder Representative for Sefton New Directions, and is passionate about the delivery of high quality and personalised Adult Social Care. He believes that Sefton New Directions has a vital role to play in the delivery of Social Care, and has the potential to extend its portfolio of services and meet the needs of many more people, through innovation and initiative.

Hannah's Story

Halloween was amazing. I had a party at my house and I invited all my friends in supported living. I thought of the theme for the party, went out and bought all the food and sweets! I opened the door to the Trick or Treaters every time they knocked and had a chat with them and gave them their treats. No tricks this year.

It has not always been like this, not close. I came to Poulsom Drive (one of Supported Living’s tenanted homes) five years ago from my family’s home. I wanted to be more independent from my family and live in my own home.

I can get upset and angry at times but I didn’t know that it could make it so hard to make friends. Since living at Poulsom Drive they have helped me work out ways to cope with anger and bad feelings which usually make me shout and swear.

I didn’t like feeling angry, the only way I can describe how it made me feel is by telling you my mind feels crumbly and I struggle with how to handle the rest of my day.

My emotional wellbeing has really improved and I know how to stop things getting out of hand. When it does feel like it might, I now go for a walk around the block by my house or listen to relaxing music.

One of the best things that living in Poulsom Drive has given me is the ability to know what others may be thinking or feeling. And I know that no one really likes it when my passionate nature (their words!) comes out so my relationships with the other tenants in Poulsom has really improved.

Understanding what other people think and feel, and what I need to give and to take to make a relationship work, is probably my biggest achievement at Poulsom. I now have a wide circle of friends, and a boyfriend, and I have a community in which I play a big part.

These friends were the ones I invited to my very first Halloween party this year, and we had a blast!

Poulsom has also helped me discover lots of other things about myself and things I like to do. I have my own part of the garden, which I look after throughout the year.

In summer, there is nothing I like better than sitting in my egg chair in my garden, chatting to the neighbours.

And I bought that egg chair – a great thing about Poulsom and New Directions is the support they have given me to be independent, especially with my money.

I now understand my benefits and how to manage my money in my bank account, and how much money I have got and what I can afford to buy. But I have also learned more about what bills I must pay and how to pay them using my account.

As I said, I could get very upset and angry but in truth, I was sometimes reacting to how other people saw me – and talked about me. My support staff encouraged me to get involved with MENCAP, this is where I met my boyfriend and lots of new friends.

I enjoy going to MENCAP, and with them I have been involved in a HATE CRIME awareness session for school children, to help them understand how words can be hurtful to people with learning disabilities like me.

I can now express myself to these young people, I can now make friends and have a boyfriend, I now have choices and make my own decisions.

I can now take part in my community and when I do get upset I can now go for a walk or sit in my chair in the garden until the upset goes.

I know that if I am not happy with something, I can tell the managers and they help me get it sorted – I feel I am listened to and that’s so important to me.

No tricks at Poulsom, just treats for me now. Thanks to everyone.

Jean's Story

Jean my stepmother has advanced dementia, and has been supported by the team at Waterloo Park three days a week. In addition to the usual exceptional care she receives – she is given choice, she is given dignity and most importantly she is given empathy – the team at Waterloo Park may have recently given her the gift of life.

Jean’s deterioration has been huge in the last six months and the team have changed the care package as needed, such as 1-1 care at home time, as Jean can get on the wrong bus, manning the gate when she goes out for a cigarette, helping keep her safe when she wants to give out teas, taking her into the community which is not an easy task, and constantly reassuring Jean to stay at the centre when she is always trying to “pick her kids up ” or visit her (late) mother.

The team are great at adjusting her care package as her needs grow and change, but she still gets to smile when she is at Waterloo which is totally down to the total care of the staff.

Recently, Jean attended the day centre when she obviously wasn’t very well – she had been acting a little different which we as a family had noticed a couple of days before and we took to her GP and was told it was probably the side effects of her medicines.

Later that day I received an email off the manager of Waterloo Park, Michelle, using lovely caring words just making sure we were aware of the changes in Jean’s behaviour that the staff had noticed in one visit to the centre!! How on the ball is that?

A few days later, Jean again went to one of her sessions at Waterloo Park and became more unwell. She was vacant and shaking. The team alerted Francey the activity lead who knew straight away Jean was unwell and not herself.

Francey has a very good relationship with Jean, and she and another member of the Waterloo Park team, Lynn, took Jean to a quiet place for her own privacy.

Lynn believed she may have an infection based on her behaviour – by this time Jean couldn’t carry her own weight. Michelle made the decision to call an ambulance.

The whole team worked together to notice, to alert, to plan and to arrange care via NHS – and Francey made a caring professional call to myself to update the family.

Jean was taken to Aintree hospital where she was diagnosed with an infection and admitted.

Waterloo Park doesn’t specialise in dementia, but the care is second to none, they know Jean inside out and detected she was ill when her GP didn’t!!

The paramedics did suspect sepsis at one point and this is life threatening but rest assured if any resident at Waterloo Park is in any danger or risk the staff will assist to the highest level and give total quality of care.

I am eternally grateful to all the staff at Waterloo Park who don’t just do a job, they have a vocation to the people they support and as a family, we will never be able to repay them. Truly a huge thank you to each and everyone of them.

Christine's Story

After I retired as a Headteacher in a lovely primary school in Bootle I started to drive a pharmacy van delivering medicine and other supplies to care homes around Southport. Some were better than others; imagine my surprise when I found myself being supported following a leg amputation at one of the best ones I used to visit!

I came to Chase Heys on discharge from hospital after an emergency leg amputation – only just below the knee, but I think my horse riding days are behind me – and I knew it was the best place for me not only because of how I remember it from my van driving days but also from the immediately warm, friendly, and caring way the team welcomed me to their ‘home’.

A home which became my home for 16 weeks – although the great work of the team means most people’s stays are much shorter; I do like to be different!

I was at a very low ebb when I arrived at Chase Heys, and I don’t shy away from the fact I was indeed suicidal.

The pace of change really affected me, as it was only several days from seeing a GP to having the operation – removing a piece of me.

I know that the average stay at Chase Heys is a matter of days or at most a week or two as people get ready to go home after coming out of hospital. As I always like to be, I was different.

I had to wait for my prosthetic leg to be built, and I had a considerable amount of physiotherapy to undergo. But this extended stay quite probably saved my life, saved me from doing something that couldn’t be undone.

I am a firm believer in fate, and I think I was destined to come to Chase Heys to learn some lessons.

The first was that I was not alone. The team at Chase Heys was looking after lots of other people in similar situations as me – and having a great time doing it, both the staff and the people they were caring for.

I could have been a recluse, sitting alone in my room. Both staff and my peers encouraged me to emerge from my room and from then on I was hardly back, enjoying the company of new fast and firm friends.

The second was to accept, and indeed embrace, what had happened to me. I didn’t think I could cope with a missing leg, but the entire team really showed how resilient I could be.

Even the physical layout of Chase Heys played a part in my rehabilitation and my emotional wellbeing; I have been free to move around, both in the wheelchair and on my prosthetic, and have the biggest or smallest amount of space to explore that suits me at the time.

That sense of independence from being allowed to move throughout the building is unquantifiable.

I am safe at Chase Heys and I am looked after so incredibly well and I know I wouldn’t have been remotely as accepting of my situation anywhere else. But it is time to go home, back to my two dogs and my cat.

I have been away too long from them, but without the team at Chase Heys, I don’t want to think about how much longer it could have been for them.

Pam's Story

We are a short-term assessment service which is goals-led; we support and encourage people to become as independent, confident and capable as they were before whatever health emergency meant that they needed our help.

We are Reablement and Rapid Support, and I am proud to be a reablement worker in that team. I wanted to share what our team as a whole achieves for the hundreds of people who need our help every year.

The main reason for looking at what the team and I do lies with the nature of our service – we can support people from as little as a one-off visit or one to two-day sessions through to extended support while care packages are being put into place.

A person’s journey with Reablement and Rapid Support usually begins with a referral from our close colleagues in Sefton Council’s social care team.

They arrange with our Care Coordinators a plan of care following the person being supported either being discharged from hospital or from the community as part of hospital avoidance.

The next step on the road is to understand what the person in our care needs – and wants – and how their physical environment can help or hinder that progress.

This assessment, undertaken for the most part by our excellent team of Trusted Assessors, feeds into the completed care or goal plan.

Somebody once asked what my day was like, and I said ‘like no other’. Each day, even with the same person being supported, is unique and different.

In a nutshell, we offer a specialist service aimed at both helping people to recover from a health issue and to live a full life once again in their own home.

We break down what they want to do themselves and see how we can help them achieve those goals.

It could be as simple as making a cup of tea or prepare a meal in their own kitchen, or have assistance or support with showering. And some days they can do it, and some they can’t.

But we are there to provide holistic support regardless – on the days they can’t, I don’t automatically do it for them but I gently encourage and coax them to make that cup of tea, prepare that meal or have that shower.

Together, we have the same goal – to boost independence, confidence and the ability to manage on their own, in their own home. And to make them independent and proud of what they have achieved!

When they achieve their goals – however lofty or more basic – my job is done. I delivered an outcome that the person supported said they needed to achieve, and through that enabled someone to live independently, confidently and happily in their own home – a reablement achieved by a problem-solving, solutions-driven team alongside a willing partner, our supported person.

Intermediate Care & Reablement

Day Opportunities

Residential, short stay and respite

Shared Lives

Supported Living

Activities

Our Story

About Us

Our Philosophy

Our Governance

Our Policies

Our Career Opportunities

Our Vacancies

Why New Directions?

Staff Stories

Your Benefits

Our Governance

Our Board Directors

Dil Daly

Chair

Sandra Palmer

Non-Executive Director

Councillor Judy Hardman

Non-Executive Director

Glen Williams

Union Observer (Non-Voting Capacity)

John Graham

Non-Executive Director

Councillor Dave Neary

Non-Executive Director

Paul Cummins

Non-Executive Director

Our Senior Leadership Team

Mark Fox

Managing Director

Andrea Woods

Head of Operations

Adam Drury

Head of HR

David Lill

Finance Manager

Paul Sheron

Head of Learning and Development

Our Executive Senior Leadership Team

Mark Fox

Managing Director

Andrea Woods

Head of Operations

Adam Drury

Head of HR

David Lill

Finance Manager

Paul Sheron

Head of Learning and Development

Neil Daly

(Who calls himself Dil)

Sandra Palmer

Councillor Judy Hardman

Glen Williams

John Graham

Councillor Dave Neary

Mark Fox

Andrea Woods

Adam Drury

David Lill

Paul Sheron

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Paul Cummins

Councillor John Joseph Kelly

Councillor Liz Dowd

James' Story

New Directions is my full-time life – everything I do, the people I meet, the friends I have made and most importantly the independence and confidence I have now are all because of New Directions.

Annie's Story

I never thought I would ever say a broken bone was a blessing…but if I hadn’t badly broken my leg and my old respite service couldn’t accommodate me, I would have never found Poplars!

Impacts & Outcomes

Continuous Transformation

Continuous Transformation

Continuous Transformation

Short Term Respite