New Director of Operations appointed at Pennine Care

Keith Walker has been appointed as Director of Operations at Pennine Care

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust has strengthened its Board of Directors with the appointment of Keith Walker as Director of Operations.

Mr Walker was formerly a Service Director for the Trust, responsible for running specialist mental health services across Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop. Mr Walker is a qualified mental health nurse and has worked in the NHS for 22 years. Prior to joining Pennine Care in 2006, he worked in a number of clinical and management positions within adult and children’s mental health services.

As Director of Operations, Mr Walker is responsible for overseeing the entire operations of the Trust’s 291 services, which provides care to a population of 1.3m people. His priorities are to ensure that services are safe and effective, that patients receive high quality care and that staff are supported in the workplace. He also oversees the delivery of the trust’s financial savings programme, as well as the performance of contracts.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Walker said: “Having worked on the frontline, in management and at a senior level, I fully understand the challenges faced by clinical services on a daily basis. I am also a local resident within the Trust’s footprint, so have a good understanding about the people who live in our communities.

“I want to work closely with managers and clinicians to continue to increase productivity and provide the best services and care possible. My overall aim is to ensure that Pennine Care is a place where staff want to work, all people feel valued and partners want to work with us.”

Michael McCourt, Chief Executive of Pennine Care, commented: “Keith is a welcome addition to the Board of Directors. During his time at Pennine Care, he has demonstrated a real commitment to improving services for patients and ensuring staff work in a positive environment. His role is essential to ensuring the smooth running of the organisation and Keith’s extensive experience and proven track record shows he’s got what it takes.”

The Director of Operations post was subject to a robust recruitment process managed externally by the NHS Leadership Academy. This included an assessment centre and interview by two separate panels made up of Board members, Governors, service users, carers and an external assessor. The recommendation to appoint Mr Walker was unanimous across both panels.

Pennine Care provides community and mental health services across Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Trafford and Tameside and Glossop.