A Hartlepool care manager has been given an MBE for her "dedicated service" to her workplace during COVID-19. Julie Shield, registered manager at Abbeyvale Care Centre received her MBE on February 28 after making the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 2022. The Teesside local, who has worked in the care sector for twenty-three years, adds the MBE to a list of awards she's received in her career including National Care Group's 'Pandemic Star of the Year'. Read more: Steph Houghton and Gary Bennett given Freedom of Sunderland honour Julie's MBE is said to reflect her "dedicated service" to Abbeyvale, after she ensured her service was "kept completely COVID-19 free." Julie said: “I’m honoured to receive such an award for work that I love to do and to be included on a list of incredibly well-deserving people.

“The commitment of the passionate and hard-working team around me, along with the wonderful people we support, has made Abbeyvale, and National Care Group, such a fantastic place to work over the past 23 years. "I’m excited to see the progression of Abbeyvale and to continue leading such a vital community service for the elderly and those with a diagnosis of dementia.” National Care Group, who operates Abbeyvale Care Centre, has said Julie has consistently put "the health and wellbeing of the people she supports above her own." Read more: Receiving MBE from Prince of Wales ‘unbelievable’, says Chris Kamara James Allen, CEO of National Care Group, said: “Establishing a service that caters to a wide range of complex needs is a challenge, but Julie has done this exceptionally at Abbeyvale, creating a care home that offers a positive and comfortable environment for the people we support. “We’re incredibly proud of all that Julie has achieved in her career and her outstanding local reputation.

She is a true example of the passion and commitment National Care Group colleagues embody daily in their shared goals of making a real difference to the lives of those we support and unlocking their full potential.”