Head of Orkney Health and Care resigns

January 26, 2018 at 9:47 am

Caroline Sinclair has announced that she is to leave her post as chief officer of Orkney Health and Care, this April.

Caroline Sinclair has resigned her post as chief officer of Orkney’s Integration Joint Board (IJB), to take up a post in East Dunbartonshire. According to Orkney Islands Council, Ms Sinclair will be taking up the new post as Head of Service at East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, later this year.

Ms Sinclair first joined the OIC in 2003 as a home support social worker and has worked in social care services in a wide variety of roles. Caroline was appointed as Chief Officer of the Integration Joint Board (IJB) in July 2015, having served as Head of Service and Chief Social Work Officer with Orkney Health and Care since 2011.

The IJB – which retained the name Orkney Health and Care – has the task of planning and overseeing community health and social care services across the county.

“I’ve loved living and working in Orkney and having the chance to work alongside so many excellent people over the many years I’ve been here,” said Ms Sinclair, who is due to leave her current post in April.

“I feel the time is right for a new challenge and I am looking forward to my new job. But one thing is certain – I will be taking all that I’ve experienced and learned in Orkney with me and I will be telling people about the great things we do here.”

Following the news, OIC chief executive Alistair Buchan said that Ms Sinclair would be missed and wished her the best for the future.

“Caroline has been a considerable asset to the Council and to our partnership with our NHS colleagues through the Integration Joint Board,” he said.

“Establishing the IJB was always going to represent a very significant challenge and Caroline has made a huge contribution to getting it underway.

“She will be missed and we wish her all the best for her future endeavours.”

NHS Orkney interim chief executive Gerry O’Brien has also taken the opportunity to wish Ms Sinclair well in her new post.

“Although I have only recently returned to Orkney, I worked closely with Caroline in my previous role and I am aware of the significant part that she played in implementing the successful model that we know as Orkney Health and Care,” he said.

“I wish Caroline every success in her new post.”