Troubled trust names interim after appointed chief withdraws application

The trust, which remains in special measures and rated requires improvement by the Care Quality Commission, said it had appointed Adam Morris from this month for an “initial six-month period”.

Dr Morris was previously chief executive at Livewell Southwest, a community interest company providing integrated NHS mental and community health and care services in Devon.

Trust chair Marie Gabriel said: “I am delighted that Dr Morris has accepted the position of interim CEO at NSFT for an initial six-month period whilst we recruit a permanent CEO.”

The trust had previously appointed Mason Fitzgerald, who was due to take the job from April, only for him to withdraw his application at the last minute.

Mr Fitzgerald took the unusual move after NSFT and its buddy organisation East London FT, from where Mr Fitzgerald had been seconded since 2019, launched a review after the BBC revealed the University of Georgia had not awarded him a masters of law degree, despite both trusts’ annual reports stating he had the qualification.

Mr Fitzgerald removed his application, even though the review found he had been “clear” with NSFT that he did not have a masters of law degree when he applied for jobs at the trust.

Mr Fitzgerald has returned to ELFT. He has remained employed by ELFT, despite being appointed deputy chief executive and director of strategy and partnership of NSFT in November 2019.

The University of Georgia has said Mr Fitzgerald had attended its law graduate programme for two semesters, but had not graduated with an LLM.

The position was available because Jonathan Warren, who had been chief executive since March 2019, retired at the end of April.

Dr Morris added: “I will help the trust build on the steady progress recognised this year by the [CQC] and I am completely committed to supporting my new colleagues in building on these improvements that will be for the benefit of all.

“It’s been a hugely challenging year for everyone, particularly those working in health and care, and the wellbeing and support of our colleagues has to be one of our top priorities.

“Clear priorities, clear accountability and absolute candour will help us continue to improve service user and carer experience, and value and develop our colleagues.”