About GatenbySanderson Health Practice

The current pace of change in healthcare is described as unprecedented, and so it seems likely to prove. Whether it is the future shape of commissioning, the impact in the short term of the QIPP agenda, the need for longer term system reform, or the creation of the Public Health Service, one thing is certain: this is an era presenting major leadership challenges.

These challenges bring pressure for senior teams, be it holding on to those staff who can be part of the future, or identifying and acting when there are skills gaps. It emphasises the importance of developing the executive team’s capacity to manage ‘business as usual’. This then gives the board headroom to horizon scan, to pick up the clinically- and commercially-sound opportunities; to maximise the value of shared objectives and to look for ideas, support and benchmarks beyond the NHS into the wider public, private sector or international markets.

GatenbySanderson’s expertise in identifying, assessing and developing talent for healthcare organisations is unique. We are the largest supplier of executive recruitment services in the public sector - yet we recognise that pinpointing the best candidates with the right skills isn’t easy. Meeting the competing demands for specialist knowledge, cross-sector experience, and commercial and patient/service-user focus limits the number and quality of candidates available. As the health marketplace changes, so do we. Our team now includes experienced recruiters who understand the full range of NHS organisations, health regulators such as Monitor and CQC; third sector and private sector providers and, critically, local government.

We have an exceptional track record of joint health/local authority appointments – appointing to 15 joint Directors of Public Health. We support health and social care organisations of all size and context in the appointment of their chief executives, chairs and directors, both executive and non-executive.

As the implications of tough financial constraints bite, we also support organisations and individuals with the impact of restructuring decisions.

For organisations requiring interim strategic resource, interim leaders are hand-picked, rigorously vetted and often experts in their sector who have an inbuilt understanding of the complexities of working in public bodies such as the NHS. Above all, they will have a proven track record of delivering effective solutions, often where others have failed.

With major offices in Leeds, London, and Birmingham this gives us detailed knowledge of both candidates and the public sector context throughout the UK. Our inclusion on the Department for Communities and Local Government capacity building and Cabinet Office call off contracts extends our capacity to support recruitment and leadership development for a range of public sector organisations.