DUDLEY Council has appointed its new director of adult, community and housing services.

Andrea Pope-Smith is due to take up her new role later this month after joining from Sandwell Council, where she was the director of adult services and health.

She has also worked in senior roles for North East Lincolnshire council and is overseen a wide range of successful services for adults in the West Midlands and Black Country.

Mrs Pope-Smith, who is married with three children and two grandchildren, takes up the position following Linda Sanders’ move to the London Borough of Hillingdon last year.

Mrs Pope-Smith said: “I am very excited about taking up this role, and really looking forward to working in Dudley. Services in Dudley already have an excellent reputation and I certainly hope to build on that. All councils are now facing difficult times, and my job will be to ensure we continue to strengthen our services for local people whilst meeting those challenges.”

Councillor Lesley Faulkner, cabinet member for adult and community services said: “I am very pleased Andrea has agreed to come and work with us at Dudley Council. She brings with her an excellent track record in delivering major programmes of transformation and improvement across adult social care.

“I am confident Andrea will be a great asset to the council and to herdirectorate. She is joining us at a challenging time as we work together to implement the next steps for our services.