Stephen Childs
Managing Director
Stephen began his career in the pharmaceutical industry before joining the NHS as a practice and fundholding manager in Deptford, South East London. In the mid 90s, Stephen joined and later led the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Multifund of 20 fundholding practices.
In 1999 he migrated North and has since fulfilled various PCT Director-level positions in the north east including Managing Director of Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland Community Services (MRCCS) where he prepared the organisation firstly for Foundation Trust status, then for life as an independent social enterprise. Immediately prior to his current role, he was interim Chief Executive for NHS Tees.
In his present role as Managing Director of NHS North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) he has been responsible for the development of a brand new type of NHS organisation that is both commercially sustainable and fit to become independent of the NHS. But, first and foremost, NECS exists to provide the best possible commissioning support to its Clinical Commissioning Group and Area Team customers.
In September 2016 Stephen was appointed interim Chief Executive of NHS Cumbria CCG (part-time), whilst continuing with his Managing Director role in NECS. Stephen led the CCG through an organisational improvement programme, financial recovery, consultation on a new clinical model and the development of North Cumbria as an integrated care system. Stephen reverted back to his position as full time Managing Director of NECS in April 2018.
In 1999 he migrated North and has since fulfilled various PCT Director-level positions in the north east including Managing Director of Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland Community Services (MRCCS) where he prepared the organisation firstly for Foundation Trust status, then for life as an independent social enterprise. Immediately prior to his current role, he was interim Chief Executive for NHS Tees.
In his present role as Managing Director of NHS North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) he has been responsible for the development of a brand new type of NHS organisation that is both commercially sustainable and fit to become independent of the NHS. But, first and foremost, NECS exists to provide the best possible commissioning support to its Clinical Commissioning Group and Area Team customers.
In September 2016 Stephen was appointed interim Chief Executive of NHS Cumbria CCG (part-time), whilst continuing with his Managing Director role in NECS. Stephen led the CCG through an organisational improvement programme, financial recovery, consultation on a new clinical model and the development of North Cumbria as an integrated care system. Stephen reverted back to his position as full time Managing Director of NECS in April 2018.
Chris Sharpe
Finance Director
Chris has 10 years senior finance experience in Health and has been fundamental to the standardisation of contract management delivery in the North East, supporting the CCGs in managing over 1,000 healthcare contracts worth £2.5billion.
Chris has expert technical knowledge of Payment by Result for emergency admissions, key health datasets and analytical programmes (e.g. SLAM, HES, SUS) and expert understanding of the different funding streams for health.
Chris is the end-to-end process owner for the NECS Business Intelligence contract management process.
Ian Davison
Business Information Services Director
Ian started his career in the private sector in technical, project management and leadership roles in manufacturing, retail and consultancy before joining the NHS in 2003. Ian heads up a team responsible for delivering ICT, programmes and projects, digital transformation, systems and application development, business intelligence and data management.
Ian is one of the founding directors of NECS and is passionate about delivering high quality, efficient and innovative services. He has accountability for all of NECS’ internal IT systems and business intelligence requirements as well as those of our customers. The Business Information Services team includes ICT infrastructure management, ICT service desk and delivery, data management and business intelligence tools and applications.
Ian is one of the founding directors of NECS and is passionate about delivering high quality, efficient and innovative services. He has accountability for all of NECS’ internal IT systems and business intelligence requirements as well as those of our customers. The Business Information Services team includes ICT infrastructure management, ICT service desk and delivery, data management and business intelligence tools and applications.
Claire Gooday
Corporate Services and Organisational Development Director
Claire has worked in HR for over 20 years in a variety of NHS and higher education settings and has been part of commissioning support units since their inception in 2013.
Claire leads NECS’ corporate services teams, including HR, organisational development, governance and communications, who deliver high quality services to our customers, as well as internally.
Our corporate services work with our ICS partners to transform services and find opportunities to improve quality and efficiency.
Claire is passionate about providing valuable services to customers, and supporting the health and wellbeing of staff to ensure they achieve their full potential.
Claire leads NECS’ corporate services teams, including HR, organisational development, governance and communications, who deliver high quality services to our customers, as well as internally.
Our corporate services work with our ICS partners to transform services and find opportunities to improve quality and efficiency.
Claire is passionate about providing valuable services to customers, and supporting the health and wellbeing of staff to ensure they achieve their full potential.
Shane Longden
Clinical Services Director
Shane started his career as a commercial manager in the oil and gas industry. Since joining the NHS 12 years ago Shane has worked in various organisations including commissioning, ambulance and Acute providers. Shane has worked as a senior manager in a variety of roles covering areas within Contracting, Commissioning and Operational Management.
Shane leads the clinical and operational teams, they ensure the provision of high quality, customer focussed commissioning support services in Cervical Screening Administration Service; Clinical Quality; Medicine Optimisation, All Age Continuing Care; Provider Management and Joint Commissioning, as well as leading our Customer Programme Management Team of senior, experienced staff that manage the day to day relationships with NECS customers.
Shane leads the clinical and operational teams, they ensure the provision of high quality, customer focussed commissioning support services in Cervical Screening Administration Service; Clinical Quality; Medicine Optimisation, All Age Continuing Care; Provider Management and Joint Commissioning, as well as leading our Customer Programme Management Team of senior, experienced staff that manage the day to day relationships with NECS customers.