MERSEY Care has appointed Trish Bennett, currently Deputy CEO, Chief Nurse and Chief Operating Officer, as their new Chief Executive Officer Designate following a national recruitment process.

Trish has been in a variety of roles since joining Mersey Care in 2016, and her appointment is subject to approval by the Trust’s Council of Governors.

She will be succeeding Prof Joe Rafferty CBE, who had previously announced his intention to retire after 12 years in charge at the end of October.

Regarded as ‘the nurse’s nurse,’ Trish had previously deputised for the CEO, representing the Trust at regional and national level.

While Chief Nurse and Operations Officer, she was responsible for the nursing leadership and operational management across approximately 200 sites including mental health, learning disabilities, community, secure and prison services and was the lead for compliance with CQC requirements and Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response.

Ms Bennett said: “I’ve worked closely with Joe for a number of years and know what a challenging role this will be but it’s one I’m delighted to take on.

“I look forward to working with the talented staff at Mersey Care and our system partners to continue to improve health and ensure high quality care for all of our communities across the Cheshire and Merseyside region.

“I want to support our workforce and create the right conditions for all staff to do their best work for those within our care, whether they are a clinician or one of the many key support roles that ensure our Trust runs smoothly, so we can continue to develop as a Trust and build on the strong foundations already in place.”

Before being appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer, Trish came through a recruitment process which included engagement with various stakeholder panels with representation from external partners, service users and carers and staff prior to an interview with the Trust’s Chair, Non-Executive Directors and external assessors. She is also subject to a range of pre-employment checks and the Leadership Competency Framework for Board Members.

Rosie Cooper, Mersey Care’s Chair, said: “Subject to approval by the Trust’s Council of Governors, I'm delighted Trish will become our new CEO and extend my personal congratulations as she prepares to embark on this new journey with Mersey Care. I’ve got to know Trish well over the years and I've seen how deeply committed she is to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities and making a real and lasting difference.

"Building on the existing foundations, I’m sure Trish will bring her own ideas to the role. It’s a challenging time to lead an NHS organisation but I know Trish is a popular choice and will work well with the existing team to take the organisation forward."

Trish has had a breadth of experience within the NHS, starting her career as a nurse, she has progressed through various leadership roles within the North West in both provider settings and at NHS England.