Interim Chief Officer for Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership confirmed
It has been confirmed that Leigh Jolly will take on the role of Chief Officer for the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership next week.
Appointment to the interim role was sparked by the confirmation of a new position for the outgoing CO, Pam Milliken, who is moving to a new position within NHS Grampian.
Chair of the Integration Joint Board John Tomlinson said: "This is the start of a new chapter for the Aberdeenshire HSCP, one which I have no doubt will present challenges but one which is in equal measure necessary and timely. We have a difficult course to navigate over the coming months, while we seek to balance the required financial savings and delivering vital health and care services to our citizens, and I am sure that Leigh will provide excellent leadership to support us. My thanks to Pam for her work thus far, steering the Partnership out of the post-COVID years and providing leadership to her team. I look forward to working with Leigh in the months ahead."
Vice-chair Cllr Anne Stirling said: “It is a great opportunity to have Leigh at the helm, navigating our way into the new future for the Health and Social Care Partnership. Our Partnership, like so many across the country, are facing challenging circumstances as a result of financial pressure and the change in our demographic – which as a result changes the services we need to deliver and where. Whilst we recognise this will be a difficult journey, I am confident we can work together as a team to get to a more stable future. We all wish Pam well for the future in her new position.”
Speaking as it was announced, Leigh said: "As Chief Social Work Officer, I have worked very closely with the Partnership and am passionate about the delivery of services to those who need our support within our communities. I recognise that the Partnership are currently facing some of the biggest challenges ever financially and I am committed to listening to our workforce, our communities and working collaboratively to be able to continue to develop and deliver quality services to those who need support most. I am impressed and inspired by the commitment of colleagues and I look forward to building relationships and working together with them."
Born in Fife as the daughter of a coal miner and a home help, Leigh trained in social work at RGU. She joined Aberdeenshire Council in 2002 and has held a number of posts in Children’s Services, before becoming Head of Service and Chief Social Work Officer in in 2018 and 2020.
Leigh will begin the interim role on Monday, April 28th, and discussions are underway in regard to her substantive post.