Following a thorough recruitment process, Sefton Partnership is pleased to announce the appointment of our first place director, Deborah Butcher.

Working closely with local partners, Deborah will play a central role in the future integration of health and care, taking a lead on tackling the health inequalities within our communities. Deborah’s new role is a joint appointment between the NHS and Sefton Council.   

Deborah said: “I feel very privileged to be able to continue the journey we have begun in Sefton together with partners across health, voluntary, community and faith sector, primary care and the council. It means continuity for us in further developing the ambitious vision we have for Sefton. We have strong partnerships in our Sefton place and I am looking forward to working with colleagues developing our future arrangements for integration in Sefton to improve health and care outcomes.”

Currently the executive director of adult social care and health for Sefton Council, Deborah brings a wealth of experience to her new role gained from working in a number of previous senior positions in local government in Plymouth and Cumbria. She is responsible for leadership across social work, occupational therapy, professional standards, safeguarding adults and integrated commissioning and she has worked closely with health partners on joint work throughout her time in the borough.

Deborah has been the senior responsible officer for developing our local place based partnership over the past year working closely with colleagues across Sefton’s two clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and supported by a talented team from across the Council and CCGs. Sefton Partnership brings the council and the CCGs together with organisations from across health and social care in the borough including NHS providers, Sefton CVS, voluntary, community and faith groups and Healthwatch Sefton.

Cllr Ian Maher, leader of Sefton Council, said: “Deborah’s appointment as place director for Sefton provides a unique opportunity for the local authority, the NHS and other key partners to work together, as she will retain her responsibility for Adult Social Care for Sefton Council. This is a critical role in developing the strategic approach to improving services to our most vulnerable and those in need. Through the great work that she has done so far, demonstrated by the outcomes and impact we’ve seen already, Deborah has proven she understands the partnership and what is needed to further improve the delivery of care through integration in Sefton.”

Fiona Taylor, chief officer of both CCGs in Sefton, said: “Deborah’s appointment is great news and reflects the strong progress we have already made in Sefton to better join up health and care across organisation in the borough for the benefit of all our residents.

“The next few months will be exciting as we move towards the new structures that build on our existing plans and achievements – our joint health and wellbeing strategy and our local NHS plan for health, Sefton2gether. Coupled with the legacy of the CCGs, we have firm foundations to build upon and Deborah’s continued leadership will ensure we keep on making the progress our residents deserve.”

Deborah is one of nine place directors who have been appointed across Cheshire and Merseyside and who will take up their posts on 1 July 2022, when NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) is established. In the meantime, Deborah will become involved with the ICB from early April so she can contribute to the further design of the integration agenda.

This was a robust, inclusive process and the selection panel for each post included the ICB designate chief executive, a non-executive director, a place-specific elected member or members, the relevant local authority chief executive, and representatives of both primary care and NHS providers.

Graham Urwin, designate chief executive of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, said: “I am really excited we have put together an excellent team of people to carry out the pivotal role of place director throughout our Integrated Care System. They all have relevant experience and skills, and comprise a complementary team who will work together and alongside NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB and the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership.

“As well as delivering on effective integration, they will also address the very real health inequalities our communities experience – a primary objective of the ICB and all our partners.

“I would like to personally congratulate all the successful candidates and wish them every success.”

You can find more information about the work to develop the Integrated Commissioning Board and Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System, including all announcements here www.cheshireandmerseysidepartnership.co.uk