Colin Kniveton has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive of Department of Health and Social Care.
 
A high level structure for the new Department has been developed with assistance from management consultants Beamans, who have also recently assisted with a review of management structure at Noble’s Hospital and the new Cabinet Office.
 
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Kniveton said: “As it will take some time to recruit into the various positions identified in the recent reviews and created by the retirement of several senior officers, I am pleased to accept the role of interim Chief Executive Officer at the new Department and to commence the process of implementing the revised structures.
 
“There is a great deal to do and I will be meeting as many people as possible in the forthcoming weeks.  I look forward to working with Minister Quayle and senior members of staff in all areas of the Department to create a new and unified management team.”
 
The Chief Executive of the Department of Health, David Killip announced last week that he was to retire after 38 years service.  The Chief Executive of the Department of Social Care, Yvette Mellor will take on the role of Managing Director for Community Services within the new DHSC, on an interim basis.
 
Mrs Mellor said of her new interim role: “I am delighted to take on this interim role, which is a new post that incorporates managing all of the frontline services from within the former DSC moving into DHSC and additionally, Mental Health Services and Primary Care.  I am looking forward to working with Colin to establish the new department and managing the interim period until the new Chief Executive is appointed.”
 
The Department of Health and Social Care comes into being on 1 April, with the merger of the Department of Health and the Department of Social Care, with the exception of Social Security which moves to Treasury.  The new Department will be the largest in Government, with a combined net budget of ?184.39m and 2,761.73 staff (full time equivalent).