Health MD appointed as acting education boss

Monday 18 October 2021

The Health Department's Managing Director has been appointed to lead the Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department for the next nine months.

Rob Sainsbury will be filling the position currently held by Mark Rogers, who will be stepping down on Friday 31 December.

As revealed by Express, Mr Rogers announced that he would be leaving in September 2021 after a year working between Jersey and the UK, and his role was advertised internally.

Pictured: Mark Rogers was first appointed to the leading CYPES role on an interim basis in 2018.

Mr Sainsbury has been appointed on an acting basis for nine months to allow for the recruitment of a permanent Director General.

The panel who appointed him included his previous boss, Director General of Health, Caroline Landon, as well as Interim CEO Paul Martin, Dame Janet Paraskeva of the Jersey Appointments Commission, and independent panel member and Jersey Hospice Chair Julie Coward.

When asked for clarification on who would be taking on Mr Sainsbury's former role in Health by Express, a Government spokesperson said: “Interim arrangements for the post of Group MD in HCS are currently being considered.”

Mr Sainsbury said he was "humbled" to be taking on the acting position and having the opportunity to lead "the dedicated public servants that provide our children’s education and welfare".

“I believe we should be hugely aspirational for the growth and opportunity that exists for our children and young people and I look forward to being a strategic asset and advocate in making sure Jersey does the best for its future generation," he added.

A former senior nurse and ward manager, Mr Sainsbury has worked in the NHS in both England and Wales since 1995 in roles both in provision and commissioning at clinical, managerial and Executive Director level.

He joined the Government in February 2018 to lead the hospital, the island’s mental health provision and improvement plan, social care and community commissioned services.

Children and Education Minister Deputy Scott Wickenden, said he looked forward to working with Mr Sainsbury.

"He has an excellent reputation across the Government for bringing strategic and transformational change to the services in our health and community service.”

Mr Martin added: “I am very excited to have Rob join the Executive Leadership Team. 

 “He will build on the achievements of Mark Rogers, our first Director General of CYPES, and his track record of service improvements and transformation will add momentum to the Island’s plan for education reform and the protection of vulnerable children.”

LISTEN...

Mr Sainsbury recently featured on the weekly Bailiwick Podcast, speaking about work underway to address serious bullying allegations in Health, staff shortages, the alleged 'NHS-ification' of the service, and the future hospital...

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