Social care and health leaders join forces to head Hertfordshire and West Essex STP

Paul Burstow, Hertfordshire and West Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership’s independent Chair, has announced the appointment of a job-share partnership of senior health and social care leaders to navigate the next steps towards an improved, integrated health and care system for our area’s 1.5 million residents.

Iain MacBeath, Hertfordshire County Council’s Director of Adult Care Services and Beverley Flowers, Chief Executive Officer of East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), applied jointly for the position of STP lead chief officer when the previous post-holder Deborah Fielding (former West Essex CCG Chief Executive) retired in April.

Paul Burstow oversaw the recruitment process which appointed the new leaders. He said:

“I’m delighted that we now have two very committed champions of integrated social care and health at the forefront of our drive to deliver high quality, effective and sustainable services. Iain and Beverley have more than 40 years of combined experience in their fields. They are well known for their commitment to partnership working in health and social care circles, both in our STP area and beyond. I’m looking forward to working closely with Beverley and Iain to make the improvements needed for a healthier future for our population, our staff and health and care services.”

Beverley Flowers and Iain MacBeath will each combine two days’ work a week leading the STP with their current posts, with the support of their organisations. Their immediate priorities include delivering the STP’s Integrated Health and Care Strategy and working the independent Chair and partner organisations on forming an over-arching Integrated Care System and leading the development of the area’s Integrated Care Partnerships.

Iain MacBeath said: “I am delighted to take up this opportunity at such a key stage in the transformation of our health and care system. This role gives me the opportunity to work with colleagues in the voluntary sector, our district and county councils and the area’s health and care providers and commissioning organisations to support people to lead happier, healthier lives.”

Beverley Flowers said: “Iain and I are committed to ensuring that clinical and professional expertise continues to be nurtured and supported in the Hertfordshire and West Essex STP area. We plan to get out and about across the patch, learning from colleagues in west Essex and Hertfordshire and championing the examples of excellent practice that exist across the whole system. There is a lot of energy and enthusiasm for positive, person-centred change in our area and we will embrace the challenge of transforming that passion into action.”