JENNIE Bashforth, the director of adult and community services at Worcestershire County Council, has announced she will leave the authority in December.

Mrs Bashforth has spent nearly seven years leading the delivery of social services from January 2001 and her current directorate since October 2005. When she joined, social services' performance was deemed as poor by inspectors, while the directorate was over-spending by £4 million.

Since then, social services and subsequently adult and community services has reached and retained a top three star-rating.

Mrs Bashforth has also been named one of the Worcester Women of the Year in 2003 for her work with social services and her impact on the county.

She is standing down to pursue a business venture in her home city of Bristol.

Mrs Bashforth said: "I have very much valued and enjoyed my seven years working in Worcestershire. However, the time has now come for me to move on.

"I would like to thank councillors, colleagues and the county council's partners for their support and loyalty over the past seven years, without which we would not have achieved all we have.

"I leave Worcestershire with some very precious memories that I will cherish for many years to come."

Rob Sykes, Worcestershire County Council Chief Executive, added: "Jennie will be greatly missed by everyone here, not least by her staff.

"What Jennie leaves behind is an exceptionally strong culture of performance management that is driven by a passion for keeping the interests of the people who use our services at the heart of everything the directorate does."