New chief executive appointed at AWP

Mr Iain Tulley has been appointed chief executive of Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and will take up his new role in mid November.

Currently chief executive of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Mr Tulley was appointed after a selection process which involved a range of stakeholders, representing commissioners, service users, carers, clinicians and senior staff.  

Announcing the appointment, Trust chair Tony Gallagher said:  "I am delighted that Iain Tulley will be the Trust's new chief executive.  The panel was impressed by his experience, knowledge and insight into the issues facing the Trust and we believe he has the best blend of skills to take the Trust forward.

"The panel was convinced that he would successfully build on the Trust's 'Fit for the Future' programme and that he will rapidly forge good working relationships with commissioners, service users, carers and staff.  I look forward to working with him to continue to transform AWP and to achieve our goal of becoming a foundation trust."

Mr Tulley  said:  "I relish the prospect of joining the team at AWP.  The Trust, its commissioners and those people using services are fully committed to improving the quality of local mental health services - and I share this ambition.  One of my immediate priorities will be to engage with our clinical and non-clinical staff, commissioners, partners in social care and other stakeholders to agree our shared vision for mental health services in Avon and Wiltshire.

"We need to build on current strengths and move forward with a renewed sense of clarity and common purpose to ensure we deliver a better and more coherent set of services to those we are here to serve."

Mr Tulley has 11 years experience as a chief executive and over 30 years experience in healthcare, predominately in mental health.  He has held numerous senior posts including working in the Department of Health and as Director of Planning and Performance for the former Wiltshire Health Authority.  He began his career in Scotland as a registered mental health nurse, has strong commissioning and provider experience and a good track record of partnership working.  Mr Tulley has substantial experience of driving performance improvement and delivering organisational change and has been actively involved in the development of the National Service Framework for mental health services.

Mr Gallagher thanked Paul Miller, who has been acting chief executive since April.  "Paul has shown great commitment, skill and enthusiasm to take the Trust forward and we are in a better place today thanks to his contribution." 

When Mr Tulley joins the Trust in November, Mr Miller will return to his role as Director of Finance and Deputy Chief Executive.  "It's really excellent that the Trust has been able to recruit an experienced chief executive with a clinical background" said Mr Miller.  "I think this is a great appointment  and I look forward to working with Iain when he starts."