Dear Colleagues
Stevan Jackson, has advised the Board of Trustees of Mary Stevens Hospice that he has decided to step down from his post at Mary Stevens Hospice and the two subsidiary companies (Trading and Lottery) after six very successful years at the helm, in order to take up new challenges elsewhere.
Stevan was the first full-time CEO of the MSH Group and under his leadership we have seen a complete transformation of the organisation. He played a key role in the 2018 development of the Dudley end-of-life strategy which aims to improve palliative care for the people of the borough. He has also been instrumental in developing exciting new collaborative relationships with key NHS allies that will come to fruition in 2020 and ensure that patients enjoy improved access to and quality of palliative care.
Under Stevan’s stewardship the Hospice has enjoyed a very high profile both locally and nationally and our reputation has been significantly enhanced during his time here. Stevan has been instrumental in promoting the fantastic work of our volunteers during his time with us, the most prestigious example being the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (The MBE for volunteer groups) which Her Majesty graciously conferred upon the Hospice in 2019. This accolade followed on from winning the 2018 ‘Pride of Dudley’ award, in which success came from a public vote. In November 2019 the Hospice was shortlisted for the Guardian Public Service Awards 2019 which recognise outstanding public service teams, projects and individuals. Mary Stevens Hospice featured in a special Guardian supplement that was published on 27 Nov.
Probably the most obvious display of Stevan’s personal commitment to the Hospice was in riding a bicycle from Lands End to John o’Groats, with two other members of our team, that raised almost £8,000 for the Hospice in Sep 2018.
The challenge for Stevan’s successor will be to build on the significant development of the new hospice facilities that he has led us through and ensure that we are able to do more for more of the people we are here to serve.
We all wish Stevan and his wife Paula the very best for the future.
Following the announcement regarding the departure of Stevan Jackson from Mary Stevens Hospice I am delighted to announce that Claire Towns has agreed to be the Interim CEO of Mary Stevens Hospice for certainly six months. Trustees have every confidence that this will be an appreciated appointment for the exciting challenges we look forward to in 2020. We know you will give Claire every support as she gives to all patients, families, staff and volunteers in her also continuing Matron role.
Dr Jane Flint-Bridgwater
Chair of the Board of Trustees