Department of Health official to be devo Manc chief officer

Jon Rouse will take over from Ian Williamson, who has been interim chief officer for the last year.

Mr Rouse will step down as director general for social care, local government and care partnerships at the department, where he was heavily involved in implementing the pooling of health and social care budgets under the better care fund.

As previously reported by HSJ, he will be employed by NHS England and be legally responsible for budgets being delegated to the region in 2016-17, as well as its £450m transformation fund.

Paul Baumann, NHS England’s chief finance officer and devolution programme director, described Mr Rouse as one of the country’s “foremost public servants”.

He added: “His extensive experience of leading transformation and integration programmes at local, national and international level will equip him well to play a central role in delivering the ambitious goals Greater Manchester has set itself for its pioneering devolution journey.”

Before joining the DH in 2013, Mr Rouse was chief executive of Croydon Council, following similar roles at the Housing Corporation and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. He is also a graduate of Manchester University.

Mr Rouse has been involved in the programme board for the devolution project and said: “I am very excited to have been given this opportunity to lead Greater Manchester’s health and care programme… I consider it both a huge responsibility and privilege to be asked to lead the whole partnership on this exciting journey.”

Lord Smith, chair of the Greater Manchester health and social care strategic partnership board, said: “We are delighted to have secured such a talented and experienced Leader as Jon for this – one of the most significant public service leadership roles in the UK.”