We round-up the latest hospice sector appointments.
John Taylor Hospice and Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice appoint joint interim CEO
The two Birmingham hospices have appointed Penny Venables, currently CEO of John Taylor Hospice, who will take up the post on May 11. Tina Swani, the current CEO of Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, will leave the organisation on that date. This follows the appointment earlier this year of Harry Turner as joint Chairman.
The move will further cement the relationship between the two hospices as they respond to the challenges of COVID-19 in the short term, and in the longer term, develop a partnership to deliver a consistent high quality end of life care to the population of Birmingham.
Tina Swani said: “I have had an incredible 18 years at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice. I have enjoyed influencing the national approach to end of life care through my role on the Hospice UK board and working with partners in the city to develop an end of life strategy for Birmingham. I wish Penny much success in her new role.”
Commenting on her appointment Penny Venables said: “I am delighted to accept this new challenge. Both hospices have a great legacy of providing outstanding care. I am looking forward to working with both teams to further improve end of life care in Birmingham.”
New Managing Director Joins Hospice Quality Partnership
David Hales joins the Hospice Quality Partnership (HQP) as Managing Director on June 8. 2020. He brings over 20 years’ experience to the role having held several successful, high profile roles in both private and third sector companies. David joins HQP from Age UK where he has worked for the past five years, most recently leading the Commercial Partnerships department.
In this role, David led significant commercial expansion at Age UK’s Trading Division, creating best in class supplier partnerships that provided trusted products and services to clients, allowing them to maintain their independence in their own homes. He also developed growth by building successful partnerships with 160 local Age UK charities to deliver the same products to those in need in each local community.
Commenting on his new role, David said; “I am delighted to join HQP and work with this talented and hard-working team to continue to select and deliver valued supplier services to Partners, helping to support their sustainability and allowing them to focus their limited resources on frontline services. I am really looking forward to meeting all of our Partners – hospices, affiliate Partners and, of course, our supplier Partners.”
St Clare Hospice welcomes new Chaplain
West Essex and East Hertfordshire charity St Clare Hospice has welcomed new Chaplain Ann Kosla, formerly the Vicar of Langley Church in Harlow.
Outlining the role that Chaplaincy plays at St Clare, Ann said: “Sometimes, when people come to the end of their lives, they can experience uncertainty, anxiety and concerns about the future. At such times they may become aware of spiritual issues. There may be questions, hopes, fears or regrets which are important to voice and perhaps explore. I am here to offer that listening ear to help patients, their families and friends, and our staff, to enable them to speak about these thoughts.”
“Spirituality is sometimes, but not always, expressed in religious faith. Spirituality means something different to everyone, and we can all have spiritual needs – regardless of if we
follow a particular religion or faith, or none. The chaplain at St Clare Hospice is available to all patients and families of any or no faith, as well as for those who are unsure of what they believe. The aim is to offer spiritual care, sensitive and appropriate to each person’s needs, so that they may find strength as they navigate one of the most difficult journeys in life.”
Ann will be working with the Patient and Family support team at the hospice, who offer holistic support to patients, family and friends considering their practical, emotional, spiritual and social needs. In the coming months she will be developing a team of chaplaincy volunteers to offer on-call pastoral and spiritual support to people of all faiths and none.
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