New Board appointments for local NHS provider

A local NHS community and mental health organisation has made two appointments to its Board.

Nicky Littler will join as director of workforce and Suzanne Robinson as director of finance. It is hoped that both will join the Trust by the end of the year. 

Ms Littler will lead on making sure Pennine Care continues to be a great place to work for its 5,500 staff and Suzanne will be responsible for the Trust’s annual budget of £270 million.

Her appointment is a new position for the Board. She currently holds the position of associate director of human resources at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. 

She has 16 years’ experience working within mental health NHS services in a senior human resources role, and also brings significant experience leading complex major workforce programmes within the NHS and local authorities and also supporting the transformation of services.

Suzanne Robinson is currently director of finance, performance and digital at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust and finance director for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Sustainability and Transformation Partnership.

She has over 17 years’ experience working at a senior level in community, mental health and hospital providers, as well as commissioning organisations in the North West of England.

Ms Robinson will replace the Trust’s current director of finance, Martin Roe, who retires at the end of October.

Evelyn Asante-Mensah OBE, Pennine Care chairwoman, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Nicky and Suzanne to our Board.  They will both bring significant experience and, importantly, some fresh ideas about how we can continue to improve our services.  

“I’d like to thank our current director of finance Martin Roe for his contributions during many years of service to the Trust and the NHS.  I’m confident Suzanne will build on Martin’s success and steer Pennine Care through the challenges ahead.

“Supporting and empowering our staff is a key area of focus.  They are at the heart of our organisation and the better we develop and care for them, the better they will do the same for our patients”. 

“We want to make sure we have a diverse and inclusive workforce and that we continue to be a great place to work.  Nicky is the ideal person to help us achieve these goals.”

Ms Littler said:  “Having previously worked for Pennine Care as associate director of human resources, I am delighted to be returning to the Trust as director of workforce.

“I am really looking forward to working with staff, service users, carers and other key partners to shape the delivery of high quality services and develop the organisation as an employer of choice. 

“This is an exciting time for the Trust and I am pleased to be part of the journey;  although there will be challenges to overcome, there are exciting things ahead for both staff and patients”. 

Ms Robinson said: “Having previously worked across a number of Manchester boroughs, I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Pennine Care.  I’m really looking forward to meeting and working with staff, service users, carers and partners.  This is a fantastic opportunity to share my experience in supporting the Trust at this exciting point on its improvement journey.