Exclusive: Trust chiefs to jointly lead STP after regional leadership shake-up

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Devon trust chief executives to lead STP on interim basis
Angela Pedder to step down from the role at the end of August
Nick Roberts to be interim accountable officer of both Devon CCGs

Two foundation trust chiefs are to be the interim leaders of a financially challenged sustainability and transformation partnership, HSJ can reveal.

Mairead McAlinden from Torbay and South Devon FT and Suzanne Tracey from Royal Devon and Exeter FT will replace outgoing Wider Devon STP lead Angela Pedder when she retires at the end of this month.

Mairead McAlinden and Suzanne Tracey will lead the STP on an interim basis

Ms Tracey will take on responsibility for the operational elements of the STP leadership role, which includes delivering the 2017-18 plan, developing the 2018-19 plan and acting as the STP leadership liaison with regulators.

The STP is attempting to make savings of £144m this financial year.

Ms McAlinden will focus on the strategic elements of the role.

In a letter to stakeholders, shared with HSJ, Ms Pedder confirmed both appointments were interim arrangements until her substantive successor is appointed. That recruitment process will start shortly, she added.

Ms Pedder has led the STP and the region’s success regime, which encompasses the north, east, and west of Devon, since spring 2016 following 19 years as chief executive of Royal Devon and Exeter FT.

Devon CCGs to share accountable officer

In a bid to bring Devon’s two clinical commissioning groups closer together, a GP has been appointed accountable officer of both groups.

Nick Roberts, who is already chief clinical officer at South Devon and Torbay CCG, will also lead Northern, Eastern and Western Devon CCG – the largest in the country – on an interim basis.

He replaces NEW Devon chief officer Janet Fitzgerald who is stepping down for health reasons.

It follows a move by the CCGs to set up committees in common, as the county aims to create a single strategic commissioner approach.

Angela Pedder’s letter said: “Nick’s appointment builds on the work that has been undertaken in recent months in developing a single executive structure across the two CCGs and bringing the respective governing bodies together to have a stronger, singular commissioning voice within the Devon system.

“Nick, Mairead and Suzanne are committed to working together to give strong and collective leadership to the Devon system to continue progress on our shared vision and plans.”

The STP is embarking on the second phase of its acute services review, which recommends the county’s four acute trusts retain their emergency departments, and proposes a reconfigured workforce structure.