Troubled trust appoints first time CEO

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust has appointed a new chief executive, the troubled mental health provider has announced.

Steve Grange, currently deputy CEO and executive director of strategy at Midlands Partnership University FT, will take up the role on 1 October.

Mr Grange has more than 20 years’ NHS management experience, but this is his first substantive CEO role. CPFT interim chief Scott Haldane will continue in the role until Mr Grange’s arrival.

MPFT said in a statement: “Steve has been a valuable member of MPFT and its predecessor organisations for almost 20 years, contributing significantly to our growth and success during that time.”

Mr Grange has held several senior roles during his nearly 20 years at the organisation, and has also worked as a programme director at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent sustainability and transformation partnership (now the integrated care board).

He will now arrive at a trust facing a series of immediate challenges around reputation, performance and quality.

The trust’s last substantive CEO Anna Hills left in February after less than two years in the role.

Shortly after Ms Hills’ departure, the CPFT board took the unusual decision in May to ditch a planned review into dozens of suicides at the trust – a move criticised by bereaved relatives and a whistleblower.

The trust then saw the departure of its deputy CEO John Webster in June. He left his role just weeks after a judge criticised his conduct and the credibility of his evidence in an employment tribunal ruling.

Meanwhile, the trust has a challenging waiting list, challenges “in retention and workforce wellbeing remain critical”, and use of agency staff has created a behind plan year-to-date deficit of £3.6m, according to its July board papers.

Mr Grange said he was “delighted” to be joining CPFT. He added in a statement: “I am passionate about community and mental health services and I am excited to begin this new role. CPFT is a fantastic organisation, and I am really looking forward to meeting teams in the coming weeks and months.”

CPFT chair Eileen Milner said: “Steve was the outstanding candidate from a hugely impressive range of applicants who wanted to come and lead our organisation.”