Chief Executive of Haven House stands down after 10 years:

Mike, who stands down from the role in July, is leaving to take over as Chief Executive at Jersey Hospice Care. Frances Daley, Haven House Chair, said: ”Over the past decade, Mike has made an exceptional contribution to the success, growth and development of Haven House. On behalf of the Board I would like to thank him for all he has achieved in his time as Chief Executive.”

We will miss him hugely but I know that his legacy will remain in the form of the fantastic team at Haven House who will continue their work to ensure the children and families we support are helped to maximise the quality of their lives.

“We have already started thinking about the process to recruit a new permanent Chief Executive but inevitably these things can take time and we want to ensure that Haven House recruits the right person into the role. I am therefore very pleased that Richard Penney, our Director of Finance, will be stepping up as Interim Chief Executive.”

Mike has always been ‘hands on’ and could be found regularly volunteering with the team at events, regularly visiting the hospice shops, engaging with the children and talking with their families, and even supporting overnight shifts in Care. He established the charity’ s Dads’ Group – a support group specifically for hospice dads to share their experiences and challenges.

In more recent months he was part of an epic walk from John O’Groats to Land’s End raising over £100,000 for the hospice. And let’s not forget the many times he has raised a smile or two dressed as the hospice’s mascot Henry.

Mike added:

‘‘The last 10 years have been the best by far of my working life . I am and will always feel very proud of the achievements and progress we have made over that time in raising the profile and income of the charity, and in delivering so much more to so many more children and families for whom Haven House makes a massive difference.”

Haven House will always remain in my heart and I will continue to follow the hospice’s progress with huge interest and passion.

https://www.havenhouse.org.uk/news/farewell-ceo-haven-house

Jersey Hospice Care announces the appointment of new Chief Executive Officer

Jersey Hospice Care is delighted to announce the appointment of Mike Palfreman as the new Chief Executive Officer. Mr Palfreman, who is currently the Chief Executive of a children’s hospice in the UK, expects to take up his position towards the end of July.

Mr Palfreman will be joining the Hospice team at a pivotal moment in the charity’s journey towards achieving and delivering its vision and mission of providing outstanding palliative care to all those living with dying, regardless of diagnosis and regardless of age. His 11 years’ experience in the hospice sector together with his passion for providing dignity and choice to those at the end of their lives, makes him a strong appointment. As Chief Executive of Haven House Children’s Hospice in north east London, he too has had to weather the “COVID-19 storm” within a hospice environment and will be bringing his experiences and learning to the benefit of Islanders as the challenges of the pandemic ease.

Mr Palfreman started working life in the banking industry with Hambros Bank, before joining the voluntary sector. Starting at the RNIB, he cut his teeth in local fundraising before heading up a Capital Appeal. Following five years at the Princess Royal Trust for Carers (now Carers Trust) as Director of Fundraising, he became Chief Executive of Age Concern Havering, which has the highest elderly population in London. Following family experience of receiving hospice care, Mr Palfreman became interested in the hospice world, working for a year as Interim Director of Fundraising at Hospice UK before achieving ‘his best job ever’ as Chief Executive of Haven House in 2011. He has been a member of the Board of CHaL (Children’s Hospices Across London) since 2012, taking on the role of Chair in 2017, and recently became Treasurer of the ICPCN (International Children’s Palliative Care Network).

Following the appointment of Mr Palfreman, Julie Coward, Chair of Trustees, said

“This is an exciting and ambitious time for Hospice as we adapt to the impact of COVID-19 and refocus on extending our services and facilities to children and young people. Mike’s appointment comes at exactly the right moment to take us forwards and we know that we will all benefit from his experience around delivering outstanding hospice care to all.”

Mr Palfreman is already enthusiastic about taking up the role. He said,

“Hospice experience runs deep in the Palfreman family. Having experienced first-hand the invaluable care they provide not only is it a real privilege to lead a hospice, but Jersey Hospice Care has a number of exciting opportunities ahead that I’m hugely looking forward to. My family and I are also committed to being part of Island life and to completing fundraising challenge events to ensure this care continues to be provided free of charge. I am delighted to have been offered this opportunity to come to Jersey and to Jersey Hospice Care, and look forward to leading and working alongside a dedicated team that is always focused on ‘patients first’”.