The NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB) has appointed nine managing directors for commissioning support services (CSS) in the first recruitment round.
Eight of the nine appointments are confirmations of current interim roles.
Another 14 CSSs wait to have leaders appointed in August, following the second round.
The NHSCB announced in mid-June that it would direct the recruitment of senior staff to the CSS organisations in order to ensure a balanced distribution of experienced individuals.
In late June, it added that lack of interest from current PCT leaders meant two recruitment rounds would be necessary.
Dame Barbara Hakin (pictured), the NHSCB’s Director of Commissioning Development, said the interview panel was primarily concerned with was that the candidates were “senior enough leaders to create an organisation of this magnitude from scratch” and were skilled in managing staff and customers.
The eight interim managing directors confirmed as CSS leaders are:
• Robert Bacon – Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull Commissioning Support Service
• Stephen Childs – North East Commissioning Support
• Keith Douglas – Commissioning Support South
• Jan Hull – Best West Commissioning Support
• Derek Kitchen – Staffordshire Commissioning Support Service
• Rachel Pearce – Arden Commissioning Support Service
• Andrew Ridley – North Central and East London Commissioning Support Service
• Sarah Whiting – North West London Commissioning Support Service.
Ming Tang, who supported commissioning in the West Midlands and now directs the NHSCB’s business intelligence programme, will be managing director of a ninth CSS.
Jan Hull, former Director of Commissioning for NHS Somerset, commented: “I am confident that Best West Commissioning Support will continue to develop as a strong business organisation retaining core NHS values. I see this role as a continuation of supporting patient care, just through a slightly different route.”
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