BRADFORD District Care NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Patrick Scott as chief operating officer.

Patrick, who has extensive senior level NHS experience across both hospital and community services, will be a voting member of the Board and the executive operational lead for the trust’s mental health, learning disability, community and children’s services. He will join the trust on February 1.

Patrick is currently director of operations at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) where he has both strategic and operational responsibility for mental health and learning disability services across York and Selby.

He has a strong track record of working with clinicians, service users and commissioners across health and social care to drive service transformation, continuous quality improvement, service developments and growth. He has also played a leading role in integrated care partnerships across the north east, working collaboratively with partners to jointly develop and deliver new services.

Patrick started his NHS career as a healthcare assistant. He then joined East Yorkshire Community Mental Health Trust as a community psychiatric nurse before moving to Humber NHS Foundation Trust as a clinical nurse specialist and manager of the department of psychological medicine and crisis services, and then head of the Trust’s forensic offender health and addiction services.

Brent Kilmurray, trust chief executive, said: “Patrick has a strong track record as both a clinician and an operational leader, and proven quality improvement leadership skills. The Board welcomes the experience and skills that Patrick will bring to the role, working with the executive team, and feel that he is a strong fit with the Trust’s values. I look forward to welcoming Patrick to the Trust in the new year.”

Patrick’s appointment follows an open recruitment process and agreement by the Trust’s nominations committee.

Commenting on his appointment as chief operating officer, he said: “I’m really excited to be joining the Care Trust which has a good reputation for developing innovative and responsive services across all areas that have been recognised nationally. I know from discussions with the Bboard and frontline staff that they have clear ambitions to build on this, working with partners to ensure that services continue to develop and meet communities’ needs. I’m looking forward to working with the executive team and staff to achieve this.”

Debra Gilderdale, who has had Board level responsibility for both operations and nursing, will continue in her role as director of nursing.