NMC restarts search for interim chief executive

The NMC announced today that it had restarted the process of finding someone to fill the post, and said the successful candidate must be able to lead the organisation through a “process of change”.

“The interim chief executive and registrar will oversee a programme of work that will improve the NMC’s culture”

NMC

Dawn Brodrick resigned at the start of July just days before she was due to take up the role, following criticism of her involvement in a high-profile NHS race discrimination case.

She was due to replace the previous chief executive and registrar of the NMC, Andrea Sutcliffe, who stepped down due to ill health.

Ms Brodrick was unanimously selected to be the interim chief executive and registrar of the NMC, by the selection panel made up of three NMC council members.

But the regulator’s diligence process came under fire by some nurse leaders for not viewing Ms Brodrick’s association with the case as a potential concern.

A recent Freedom of Information request submitted by research fellow Roger Kline and former health minister and nurse, Ann Keen, revealed that the NMC did ask Ms Brodrick about the racism case during the recruitment process.

The NMC noted that it had considered Ms Brodrick’s “leadership and equality, diversity and inclusion expertise”.

However, the NMC said today that it had “reflected on the previous recruitment process” and had now appointed equality, diversity and inclusion specialists Inclusive Boards to help with the search.

In addition, it said it would now have the shortlisted candidates engage with a stakeholder panel and employee panel prior to the final panel interview.

A “diverse panel” consisting of three council members and two independent council members will be responsible for selecting the successful candidate, said the NMC.

It said its aim was to appoint someone into the interim post – which pays between £175,000 and £195,000 – by October.

Meanwhile, it said the search for a permanent chief executive and registrar would be launched in September, with the aim of appointing this position before the end of the year.

The appointment of an interim comes at a crucial time for the NMC, as it responds to the fallout of a damning review into its internal culture.

The review, led by former chief crown prosecutor Nazir Afzal and Rise Associates, exposed bullying, racism and toxic behaviour at all levels of the organisation.

It also concluded that the NMC’s senior leadership was not functioning properly and that a lack of diversity in the organisation did not represent the nursing and midwifery professions it serves.

The NMC said it was looking for an interim chief executive and registrar who could help the organisation “start the process of change” following the review.

It comes as the regulator accepted all 36 of the report’s recommendations, which include eliminating the fitness to practise backlog and publishing an anti-racist action plan to rebuild trust with minority ethnic staff.

In a statement, the NMC said: “This will be a complex leadership challenge, but it is also an opportunity to have a significant impact on the NMC as we set our organisation on the road to recovery.

“The interim chief executive and registrar will oversee a programme of work that will improve the NMC’s culture and ensure a clear focus on our primary purpose – to protect the public.”