The Board

Tina has over 40 years of experience in clinical and strategic nursing roles. She has worked as Chief Nurse of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership until June 2019. Her appointment as a non-executive director brings her full circle, having started her career as a Ward Sister for the old Shropshire Health Authority in 1979. She joined the Trust as a Non-Executive Director in November 2018. Tina is the Chair of the Quality, Equality, and Inclusion Assessment (QEIA) Panel and is the NED champion for Emergency Planning but has been Acting Chair since February 2023.

Patricia took up the post of Chief Executive for Shropshire Community Trust in April 2021, marking a return to Shropshire, as she grew up in Wolverhampton and began her career as a district nurse in Shrewsbury.

Over the last 20 years Patricia has mainly worked in clinical managerial roles in the acute sector, in community, mental health and latterly the Accountable Officer for CCGs in North Kent and, most recently, in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, where she has led a system transformation programme and successfully brought together the three clinical commissioning groups. Patricia is, however, very proud of the fact that she is still a registered nurse and practices clinically.

Patricia is keen to look at how the Trust can build on the effective services that already in place across our adult and children’s teams, how the Trust can deliver more integrated services which are wrapped around primary care, and to continue for Shropshire Community Health to maintain its track record as a very forward-thinking organisation.

Claire, a registered physiotherapist, is a non-voting member of the Board. Claire was previously the Deputy Director of Quality and Chief AHP within the Trust.

Claire has a special interest in MSK and is also responsible for Allied Health Professionals within the Trust.

Ganesh is a Consultant Paediatrician by background and has lived in Shropshire for over 23 years, combining clinical work with medical leadership and management roles both locally and as an advisor to the Newborn Hearing programme nationally. He worked as the designated doctor for safeguarding for Shropshire and took strategic and professional lead on all aspects of the health service contribution to safeguarding children across all the providers. He led the New-born Hearing Screening programme for Shropshire and established balance services for children.

Clair, a registered nurse, has experience of both acute Trusts and community services. Prior to Shropcom Clair was the Deputy Director of Nursing at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SaTH).

Previous roles have included Ward Manager in Cardiology, Community Matron for long-term conditions, Senior Matron in Adult Community Services across the city of Wolverhampton, and Head of Nursing at New Cross Hospital. She is passionate about improving patient care.

Sarah has extensive experience working in healthcare settings including mental health, commissioning and community services and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. She is an executive board member and is responsible for advising the Board and wider organisation on financial matters including financial governance and stewardship. Sarah is also the Trust lead for Contracting, Procurement, Estates Services, Digital Services, Planning and Counter Fraud.

Shelley initially joined the Trust on an interim basis in November 2021 as part of a joint arrangement with the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust before being appointed substantively in October 2022. Shelley is a non-voting member of the Board.

Shelley started her career in legal private practice representing defendants in civil litigation before joining NHS Resolution in 2006 where she represented NHS Trusts across the country. She has since worked in several NHS Trusts with experience of leading a variety of corporate and governance services.

Rhia has spent most of her career in Organisational Development in the private sector supporting Global FTSE companies.

She went on to pursue a career in Human Resources which progressed to her leading the full range of HR and OD services for many years as a Head of HR Globally within Transportation, Automotive and Aerospace before joining the NHS as a Deputy Director going on to become a Board level Executive Director.

She has a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Salford University of Manchester (Business School) and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

In addition to her role at Shropshire Community Trust, Rhia is Director of People and OD for The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust

F2SU, E&DI, Audit Committee Chair

Harmesh brings a strong background of accountancy and financial management to the role, having spent more than 20 years working in senior roles at Wrexham County Borough Council. He also has extensive experience as a Non-Executive Director, including at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. He joined the Trust as a Non-Executive Director in November 2018 and is the Chair of the Audit Committee. Harmesh is also the NED champion for Freedom to Speak Up and Diversity & Inclusion.

Resource and Performance Committee Chair

Peter has worked in the public sector in a variety of senior strategic development and service improvement roles and is currently a Local Authority Transformation and Efficiency Consultant. He joined the Trust as a Non-Executive Director in November 2018. Peter is the Chair of the Resource and Performance Committee and NED champion for Mortality & Learning from Deaths.

People Committee Chair

Cathy has worked in both the private and public sector and has held Accountable Officer posts at two Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) as well as Executive Director posts in Acute Hospitals. She has also worked for the European Commission in the Middle East, where she specialised in the delivery of healthcare projects to vulnerable communities. Cathy is also a trained chef and works sessionally in a cookery school. Cathy is the NED champion for Workforce and is Chair of the People Committee

Charitable Funds Chair

Alison has significant experience in public sector and charitable organisations and is experienced in HR, IT, regulatory compliance, risk management and quality assurance services. As company director for Capstone Foster Care, she worked with a small Board, leading the overall strategy and operations of six registered fostering agencies supporting more than 800 children. Alison is currently CEO for Adullam Homes a charitable benefit society supporting those at risk of homelessness and providing support for mental health and addiction issues.

Alison joined Shropcom in 2022 as a Non-Executive Director and is the Trust’s Non-Executive lead for Safeguarding. As an experienced strategic thinker who is passionate about ensuring the most vulnerable people receive the right care and support, Alison brings with her a wealth of experience coupled with fresh ideas and perspectives.

Quality and Safety Committee Chair

Jill has worked for over 30 years at Board and senior level in the NHS, predominantly in Community and Mental Health services in North Wales, West Sussex, Surrey, and Berkshire. She has been committed to close collaboration with partner organisations to establish successful admission avoidance services with primary care, local authorities, and acute hospitals. In Berkshire she established an integrated community palliative care service with the local hospice and an integrated Community Mental Health team with the Local Authorities and the voluntary sector. Jill returned home to Shropshire in 2018 where she originally trained as a physiotherapist.

She joined Shropcom in January 2022 and now chairs the Trust’s Quality and Safety Committee and is a member the Audit and People Committees. Jill is passionate about patient care and working with other partners in the system to ensure seamless care to patients and in particular for those living in rural communities. Jill is the Trust’s Rural Health Champion.