November 2016. Jo Pritchard, Chief Executive of CSH Surrey, and Bill Caplan, Chair of the CSH Surrey Board of Directors, have announced they are starting the process of finding a successor for Jo, 10 years after she and 35 colleagues set up the country’s first employee-owned social enterprise to deliver NHS services. CSH Surrey anticipates that Jo will hand over the reins some time during the summer of 2017 once her successor has been appointed.
Jo comments: “I remain as passionate as ever about our model and the positive difference this makes to staff and patient care. I am extremely proud of what CSH has achieved and influenced, locally and nationally, since the original vision was developed, but now is the right time to start the process of handing over the leadership. I will remain in charge until my successor starts, some time during 2017.”
Bill Caplan adds: “We believe the timing is right to start our search for a successor to Jo: CSH Surrey has been successful in recent bids to run community services in other parts of Surrey; we have created strong partnerships with local organisations that are helping to turn integrated care into a reality; and people tell us they value our integrity, flexibility, responsiveness and absolute focus, first and foremost, on doing what is right for patients and their families and carers.
“We will be taking our time to make sure we secure the right leader to succeed Jo: someone who has the right values that are so core to our employee-owned social enterprise as well as the collaborative and innovative mind-set necessary to lead a key partner in the health and social care systems.”
When Jo steps down from her full time Executive role in 2017 she will be appointed as a Non-Executive Director to the CSH Surrey Group Board of Directors.