A new Chief Officer has been appointed to take forward the development of the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership – a joint partnership between NHS Forth Valley, Clackmannanshire and Stirling Councils.

Annemargaret Black, who is currently the Head of Community Health and Care for the East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, will take up the role in Summer 2019.

Commenting on her new role she said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the post of Chief Officer for the new Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership.

“Throughout my career I have worked with local people, voluntary organisations and partner agencies to improve the way health and social care services are designed and delivered, particularly for some of the most vulnerable groups in our society. This has included the development of care home, addictions, mental health and adult protection services as well as specific work to tackle loneliness and isolation.”

Annemargaret Black trained as a nurse in Glasgow, specialising in providing treatment and support to people affected by drug and alcohol addictions. She has worked in a variety of frontline addictions services for many years as a practitioner, in management and as a professional lead for nursing.  She then took up the post of Head of Mental Health and Partnerships/Lead Nurse Advisor and then Head of Primary and Community Services for the former East Dunbartonshire Community Health Partnership. In 2014, Annemargaret was appointed to her current role as the Head of Community Health and Care for the East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

Cathie Cowan, Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley, said: “Annemargaret has extensive leadership experience in driving forward improvements across the NHS, local authority and voluntary sectors and is therefore ideally placed to build on the joint work already underway to develop local health and care services across Clackmannanshire and Stirling.”

Clackmannanshire Council Chief Executive, Nikki Bridle, said: “Annemargaret has a fabulous track record of leading positive improvement in partnership with the public and voluntary sectors. She is bringing a wealth of experience which I am sure will make a positive contribution to delivering the aims of the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership as we move into the next phase.”

Stirling Council Chief Executive, Carol Beattie, said: “I look forward to working alongside Annemargaret to ensure that the Partnership continues to provide local health and social care services that will benefit residents across both regions.

“A lot of excellent work has already been undertaken, such as the opening of the Bellfield Centre as part of the Stirling Health and Care Village, and I am sure Annemargaret will help the Partnership continue to grow from strength to strength and enjoy a prosperous future.”