Welcome to your Autumn edition of CNTW’s Membership e-Newsletter
Message from our new Chairman, Darren Best
I always find that getting started and deciding on the opening words is the most difficult bit when it comes to writing a short biography, or introduction, on that basis I will simply start with a traditional combination of a very warm ‘hello’, ‘hiya’, ‘hey-up’ and my personal go to favourite greeting, ‘Ya Alright?’…I’m Darren Best and from October 1st I became the new Chair of the Council of Governors and Board of Directors at CNTW.
So now that we are virtually introduced, I must start with a huge thank you to our outgoing Chair, Ken Jarrold. Ken has been an outstanding public servant and is a man who dedicated his entire working life to the NHS. It is with that backdrop that I think it is worth further reflecting upon his farewell words, from the September newsletter, ‘CNTW is the best organisation I have ever served’, a huge compliment from someone who has served in many NHS organisations for over five decades! In addition to offering my personal gratitude to him, I sincerely wish Ken and his partner Roby (and the dogs, Wilfred and Owen) a very long, happy and healthy retirement together.
For those that don’t know me or haven’t met me (yet) in addition to the introduction, I offer a very brief biography. I am married to Beverley, and we have three grown up children, Maisy, Rosie and Ollie, I am very proud of them all. That said, the most important member of the family is our dog Bobby, I do intend to bring him with me (when appropriate) whilst I’m out and about, so please feel free to say hello, we’ve both got black hair with the odd grey bit, but he’s the handsome one with big floppy ears.
On a professional level, I was a police officer for thirty years. I retired in July 2019 as the Deputy Chief Constable of Northumbria Police. It was during my time in the police that I really became aware mental health related matters. Over the years I was involved in numerous policing incidents and issues that had a mental health backdrop, however it was the untimely and tragic death of a friend and colleague in 2012 that truly tested my own mental health and caused me to think about how I could, and should, support colleagues to recognise and talk about their mental health and wellbeing.
Shortly before retiring from the police, I was successful in applying to be a Non-Executive Director, (NED) with CNTW. I began work with CNTW in October 2019. As a NED I have been the Chair of the Quality and Performance Committee, I chaired the People Committee during its initial set-up stages and have been the Trust Health and Wellbeing Guardian.
I realise that I begin my tenure as Chair in some of the most difficult circumstances the NHS and CNTW has ever faced. I say that because, as well as being the truth, I believe it is important that we collectively understand the pressures that we need to manage and overcome. I recognise that the challenges CNTW is facing are significant and for the foreseeable future things are going to be difficult, but as a member, whether that be as a service user, a carer, or someone with an interest in our services, you should know that Executive and Non-Executive colleagues are fully committed to, and up for, tackling the challenges.
On a personal level and being realistic, I know that I won’t always get things right and / or people won’t always agree with me but my commitment to you is that I will always listen, I will always be respectful, I will always be honest, and I will always do my best for the people that CNTW serves and the people who work with, and for it.
When I was interviewed for the role of Chair, I set out four questions / challenges that I believe are central to the thinking and work we must do. They are:
- How will CNTW lead and help provide high quality, safe and timely mental health and disability services in the North-East (and beyond)
- How do we retain, develop and attract the very best people?
- What kind of organisation does CNTW need to be and who and how does it need to engage and work with to deliver?
- How do we afford the above and ensure financial sustainability?
Having served the public for over thirty years, I realise that the work of our people and the organisation as a whole is often complex and multi-faceted, answers and solutions are not always obvious and sometimes it is about making the best of a bad situation. In my view the support that we should all use to guide us through difficult times, situations and decisions can be readily found in our strategy ‘With you in mind’ With you in mind – Our strategy from 2023 – Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (cntw.nhs.uk). A key difference with CNTW to many other organisations is that people here live the strategy in the way they treat people and do things, I have seen that many times when visiting services and speaking to our people, it is that alignment and strength in ‘how’ we work and treat each other that will see CNTW through the difficulties we face.
In my view if we utilise and keep central to our thinking the vision, values and ambitions that are set out in ‘With You in Mind’ whilst positively and actively striving to answer the above four questions, we will be successful in helping the people that rely upon and need us. My focus will always be on the needs and views of service users and carers, whilst supporting our staff and those that that we work with to do their very best for them.
I am delighted to be your Chair, I am passionate about the work CNTW does and am proud to be part of it. I feel genuinely honoured to be working with people who do amazing things every day and am hugely grateful to you, our members, for your support, interest, and involvement.
The brand-new project has been launched in South Shields to provide those struggling with their mental health a safe space to chat to others.
Earlier in September, Paul Wales and Dr Mohammed Elhamshary set off on a long-distance cycle to raise money for two charities, the SHINE fund and Brain Tumour Research. They set off from Newcastle and arrived in London, where Mohammed then returned home to complete the Great North Run.