New Non Executive Joins Board Of Somerset Mental Health Trust

Main Category: Mental Health
Article Date: 19 May 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has announced the appointment of a new Non Executive Director to its Board.

Roger Powell, from Martock, served for many years in the Royal Navy achieving the rank of captain. He is currently the managing director of a consultancy specialising in the development of business partnerships.

He joins the Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as a Non Executive Director of the Board and will serve for the next four years.

As a Non Executive Director, he will be fully involved in the strategic planning and corporate decision-making of the Trust, holding professional managers to account for service quality and financial performance of this top performing NHS organisation.

For the last three years Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has achieved the Healthcare Commission's highest 'excellent' performance rating.

The Partnership Trust is responsible for providing specialist care for people in Somerset who experience mental ill health. It aims to provide the best possible service to individuals, and to encourage independence and recovery of those with mental health problems, including people with learning disabilities.

Last year the Trust spent over £53 million funding mental health services to over half a million people.

Linda Nash, Chairman of Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I am delighted to welcome Roger to the Trust. His wide experience within the Royal Navy, in business and his involvement with a charitable organisation, make him ideally suited to the challenges of helping to deliver high quality, responsive mental health services to the people of Somerset, and we welcome him to the Trust Board.

'We are also pleased that two standing non-executive members - Ian Vaughan and Colin Stevenson - were re-appointed.'

"Roger, along with all the members of the Board, will play an important part in the delivery of the ambitious plans the Partnership has for the future, share in the sense of pride that we have served the people of Somerset well and work to improve mental health services for all", said Ms Nash.

Mr Powell is also a non-executive director of the Yarlington Housing Group, a charitable housing association, and has had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy from 1979-2005 as an aeronautical engineer officer. He has been chairperson of Martock Parish Council since 2001.

Mr Powell's four-year term of office will last from May 2009 until April 2013. As a Non Executive Director he will receive a remuneration of £12,000 each year.

Source
Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust