Colleagues Bid Farewell To Two Long-Serving Heads Of Service At Council

Two longstanding senior officers at Wrexham County Borough Council will leave their roles at the authority at the end of the month, marking the end of long careers in their respective fields in local government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Susan Evans, Head of Children’s Social Care, and John Davies, Head of Education, will both come to the end of their time at the council at the end of March. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John began his career with the former Clwyd County Council in 1980 as a mathematics teacher at Denbigh High. He went on to serve as a deputy headteacher in Ysgol y Waun, Gwernaffield in 1987; a headteacher at Cilcain CP School in 1992 and then at the Rofft School, Marford, in 1996. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In 1999, after the former Clwyd became Wrexham, John accepted a post as numeracy officer in the Education and Leisure Services, and successfully trained to become an Estyn Inspector in 2000. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He was appointed Chief Learning and Achievement Officer in 2009, which later became Head of Lifelong Learning, and in 2011 Head of Education. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Susan Evans qualified with a Diploma in Social Work in 2000 from the former North East Wales Institute, and took up a post as Social Worker with Wrexham Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In 2003, she became a senior practitioner, before going on to become team manager in 2004 and Head of Family Inclusion in 2006. In 2011, Susan was appointed Head of Children and Young People. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John said: “It has been a privilege to have worked alongside so many colleagues, both within the council and in our schools, who are committed to supporting children and young people to have positive aspirations, learn and achieve their potential.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Susan said: “I feel privileged to have been able to lead a department with so many people who are dedicated to doing their very best for children and families in Wrexham.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Bob Dutton, Lead Member for Corporate Services and Health and Safety, said: “Both Susan and John have served the authority for a good deal of time, bringing their years of expertise to good use in their respective roles as Head of Children’s Social Care and Head of Education. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The hard work they have each put into their roles will have had a particular impact on children living in Wrexham, in two incredibly important service areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I wish the both of them the very best of luck in all of their future endeavours, and I am sure their fellow officers and councillors will be sorry to see them go. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We all wish them the very best in their future interests.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​