Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust has welcomed two new non-executive directors (NEDs) to its Board.

The Trust, which provides mental health, community and learning disability services for people across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven, began the selection process for the positions following the retirement of Dr Susan Butler from her role as a NED in a clinical capacity after six years on the Board. The two new appointments enhance the existing skills on the Board, bring additional legal and clinical experience to the Trust and strengthen the membership of our two quality-led Board Committees.

Stepping into the clinical position will be Carole Panteli, who has worked in the NHS for 42 years in a variety of roles including as a nurse, midwife and district nurse, followed by two years as Director of Nursing and Quality for NHS England’s Lancashire Area Team. Carole has also worked as a specialist advisor to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and care services, and as a Fitness to Practice panel member for the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

On her appointment, Carole Panteli said: “I am delighted to be joining the Care Trust’s Board of Directors. I look forward to chairing the Trust’s mental health legislation committee, and bringing together my nursing expertise and my experiences working with a wide range of healthcare organisations and the CQC to take forward the Trust’s quality agenda.”

The second new NED will be Simon Lewis, who brings considerable legal and commercial experience. Simon is a barrister whose key areas of interest include employment issues, equality and discrimination, human rights and mental health legislation. Simon has additional experience implementing change management strategies in other organisations, at the General Optical Council and as non-executive director for the West Riding County Football Association.

Simon Lewis said of his new role: “This is my first direct role within the NHS and I hope that my broad experience, across both the private and public sector, along with my legal expertise, will enable me to add value to the Board. I look forward to contributing to the work of Trust’s mental health legislation and finance and business investment committees.”

Simon began his three-year term on Monday 19 November and Carole took up her place on Monday 3 December.

Michael Smith, Chair of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, said:  “These appointments follow a highly competitive external selection process led by our Council of Governors, and I am delighted to welcome Carole and Simon on behalf of the Board.  Our new non-executive directors will bring a broader range of experience and add value to the high quality services the Trust delivers, alongside our partners both locally and across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. I very much look forward to working closely with them as they take on their new positions.”