A county council director has been appointed honorary professor of health and care integration at Leicester’s De Montfort University.
Cheryl Davenport, Leicestershire’s director of health and care integration, has been recognised for her contributions and achievements in her jointly appointed role with NHS partners.
Over the last five years she has brought partners together across the public sector to improve health care for residents and led the delivery of Leicestershire’s £56m Better Care Fund, a pooled budget between us and the NHS, which is transforming health and care.
She has led ground-breaking work on the integration of health and care data, developed new, integrated services that have improved hospital discharge, prevented falls, created neighbourhood teams, and revolutionised Leicestershire’s housing support service.
This innovative collaboration between us, district councils and NHS partners, is helping older and vulnerable people stay independent, safe and well in their home for as long as possible and won the Local Government Chronicle Award for public partnerships in 2018.
Cheryl’s career in health and care spans 29 years. She has worked in the hospital sector in the NHS, in healthcare consultancy at PricewaterhouseCoopers, as an executive director in the USA, and since 2005 has held director roles in Leicestershire’s health and care system.
I’m really proud, surprised and honoured to have my work recognised in this way.
“Although this honorary professorship marks a personal achievement, it is testament to the commitment and support of the many colleagues and stakeholders who have collaborated with me in this role across so many organisations.
Person:Cheryl Davenport, director of health and care integrationCheryl will now lead seminars at the university in front of students, who will benefit from ‘real life examples of how to apply policy into practice.’
It is so important that students preparing for careers in health and care understand the policy context, what effective health and care integration looks like on the ground, and how traditional roles and boundaries between professions and organisations are changing. I can give them insights into how we measure the impact this is having on individuals and communities.
Person:Cheryl Davenport, director of health and care integrationCouncillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It is fantastic to see Cheryl being honoured with the position at the university for the vital work that she has carried out that has and is currently making a difference to residents and professionals across Leicestershire.”
Professor Bertha Ochieng, professor of integrated health and social care at DMU, said: “We are delighted that Cheryl will become an honorary professor at DMU.
“Adult social care is one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS and her work in this field has been exceptional, championing how well care and support services achieve the outcomes that matter most to people. I am sure our students and university colleagues will learn much from her."