Interesting to see 2 recruitment adverts from the NHS in the
Sunday Times appointments section this week.
The first was from the NHS Leadership Academy. It is calling
for “experienced business leaders" to join the NHS fast track executive
programme. And I suspect in framing this
advert they did not think that the charity or social enterprise sector has “business
leaders”?
Indeed a news story accompanying this from the DH made the
point, that they want people from the private sector. So presumably not the
third sector then. And certainly I doubt any leader from our sector reading
this will think an application from them is welcome.
The other is from Oxford Health, a foundation trust
providing mental and community services. It is looking for non exec directors.
It says it “requires an outstanding individual offering substantial senior
level expertise gained in the private or public sectors". Note the
exclusion of the third sector. So as this is a "requirement"
presumably no one from our sector need apply. What sort of message is that
Oxford Health? Especially when they go
on to say want “patient safety" experience!
There are 2 problems with this discrimination (direct or
indirect it’s hard to say?).
First, it ignores the huge significance of the third sector
in delivering services, promoting prevention, acting as patient’s advocates and
campaigning. As we need to move resources into community and prevention it is
stupid not to want experienced professionals from the third sector in
leadership positions.
Second, it ignores the wealth of knowledge and experience of
our sector's leaders. We know in ACEVO that many of our members come from
significant jobs in the private or public sectors. For example, just recently Jane
Collins took up post as CEO of Marie Curie - she was previously CEO of Great
Ormond St; the famous children’s hospital.
The head of the British Heart Foundation was previously in
charge of a battleship. I could go on...
And the leadership of a top charity needs strong “business
skills". Many business thinkers believe the sort of leadership skills
displayed in our sector are exactly the sort of skills needed in 21st century
businesses. It’s particularly true in a health and social care service.
Many of our top
national charities are big business. They employ thousands of staff as well as volunteers,
for example the Red Cross employ3000 staff and 30,000 volunteers. They have to manage difficult political and
stakeholder interface work effectively with clients and patients and manage big
budgets. They have exactly the leadership experience the NHS needs.
It’s particularly extraordinary that a mental health trust
has publicly demonstrated its lack of interest in recruiting to their top board
people from exactly the constituency they need to work with. After all, it’s
the third sector that now delivers a third of all services in mental health. So
I suggest that the trust and the head hunters Veredus look seriously at
changing this advert; on the assumption it was not a deliberate attempt to
discriminate against anyone from our sector.
And I suggest that the Department of Health similarity look
at their recruitment to the NHS Academy. They need the leadership skills of top
charity and social enterprise leaders. Its just plain stupid to ignore
them.
Is this symptomatic of the culture of an NHS that, when it
thinks about charities and social enterprises, thinks first of volunteers
making people cups of tea, or wheeling trolleys around wards rather than a
professional service that delivers for patients?
You might think its just 2 adverts, but this is a sad
indication of how little the NHS thinks the third sector matters.
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