Clinician and respected East Anglian academic joins NSFT Board
A professor with a clinical background in mental health and extensive experience of developing new and better ways to deliver clinical services is joining the region’s mental health service as its first associate non-executive director for partnerships.
Professor Sally Hardy, who has a background as a mental health nurse, researcher, and educator, joins Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust on 9 January 2023.
The mental health trust has a clear improvement plan in place that focuses on how the organisation can better and more consistently deliver excellent, safe care and make lasting changes to improve staff and service user experience across the mental health and learning disability services it delivers for people in Norfolk and Suffolk. Professor Hardy’s role will help the Trust as it seeks to make changes to how it works, including working more closely in partnership with other parts of the NHS, social care, the voluntary sector and local communities.
Professor of Mental Health and Practice Innovation and former Dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of East Anglia, Sally has spent over 40 years working in health care and higher education organisations.
Zoë Billingham, Chair of NSFT, said: “I am delighted Sally is joining us. She brings an additional clinical perspective, depth of experience, and knowledge of leading change across complex organisations and services that will be valuable as we continue to improve our services. We are committed to making lasting change to deliver services that our communities deserve.”
Professor Hardy, who will be in post for three years, said: “I am really looking forward to joining the team. I bring a fresh pair of eyes and understand the challenges NSFT faces and what the Trust wants to achieve. I also see the opportunities for improving health and care by engaging with other NHS and social care organisations in Norfolk and Suffolk, working together in new ways brings many exciting possibilities.”
Howard Tidman, Lead Governor at NSFT, said: “I am very pleased Sally is joining us. She will be the second board member with a clinical background that we have appointed in the last month, and her experience in transformation will be key to helping us improve. This important appointment also enables us to create an even stronger relationship with our partner organisation, Norwich UEA.”