CHIEF INTEGRATION OFFICER APPOINTED FOR COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE MENTAL HEALTH, LEARNING DISABILITIES AND AUTISM SERVICES
30 October 2024
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) and Coventry and Warwickshire ICB (CWICB) are pleased to welcome Viral Kantaria as the new Chief Integration Officer for Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Services across Coventry and Warwickshire.
This appointment marks a new approach to commissioning mental health, learning disabilities and autism services in the area. Embedded within CWPT, Viral will work across CWPT and CWICB and in partnership with stakeholders to create an infrastructure to execute commissioning decisions that improve outcomes for people living in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Following a joint recruitment process, Viral joins CWPT’s executive team as a Chief Officer and brings a wealth of experience to the role. He has held senior positions overseeing mental health services at NHS England and East London NHS Foundation Trust, and most recently, as Chief of Staff to the National Chief Operating Officer at NHS England.
Mel Coombes MBE, Chief Executive at CWPT, said:
“On behalf of everyone at CWPT, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Viral to his new position as Chief Integration Officer. Viral’s role will further the good work already underway across the system to embed more integrated ways of working for the benefit of the people we support, and we’re pleased to bring that same collaboration to our commissioning decisions. The board and I look forward to working with him.”
Phil Johns, Chief Executive at CWICB, said:
“Viral’s appointment is a significant step in strengthening our approach to mental health services across Coventry and Warwickshire. His extensive experience will be instrumental in shaping a more integrated mental health strategy that directly aligns with our goal of improved, outcomes-focused care. This innovative role embodies our commitment to collaborative, evidence-based commissioning, and we are confident that Viral’s leadership will drive meaningful progress for the mental health and wellbeing of our communities.”
Viral Kantaria said:
“I am delighted to join the CWPT Board in taking up this exciting new role working with patients, carers, staff and partners to improve the lives of people with mental health issues, learning disabilities and autism. Our fresh approach signals the clear ambition of the Trust and ICB to focus more sharply on what matters to people across Coventry and Warwickshire. I look forward to learning about and drawing on local communities’ knowledge and expertise to help make the care that the NHS and our partners provide more joined-up and person centred.”