Susanne Millar has been appointed as Chief Officer of Glasgow City’s Health and Social Care Partnership (GCHSCP) after leading the organisation through its toughest ever year.

And one of her first acts after the Integration Joint Board confirmed her appointment to the role, which she has held on an interim basis since May 2019, was to praise the “truly exceptional” performance of HSCP staff throughout the pandemic.

Susanne said: “I’m delighted to be appointed as Chief Officer of the GCHSCP after two years in the role on an interim basis. And I’m so grateful for the support and dedication of the staff and senior management team throughout that period and especially during the unprecedented challenges we’ve faced over the past year. Their truly exceptional commitment across the range of our services to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of people in Glasgow City has been inspiring.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, I look forward to using the lessons we’ve learned together, to continue developing integrated, innovative and responsive, people-centred services which help residents young and older enjoy healthier, happier and longer lives working with our range of partners, and our communities.”  

Susanne has worked in Glasgow for her whole career – first in residential care for older people, before completing a post-graduate in social work in 1990. Following six years of working with vulnerable children and families, Susanne moved into strategy and planning covering children and adult services. In 2006, she became the Head of Children’s Services in Glasgow, then assumed the additional roles of Head of Homelessness and Asylum Services. In 2012, she became the city’s Assistant Director for Social Work, then in 2014, took on the role of Chief Officer for Planning, Strategy & Commissioning for GCHSCP and then the post of Chief Officer Strategy and Operations GCHSCP which was created in 2017, while retaining the Chief Social Work Officer role, before moving into the Interim Chief Officer role in 2019.

Annemarie O’Donnell, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council, congratulated Susanne on her appointment. 

She said: “Susanne is definitely someone you want on your team in a crisis! And her performance over the past two years has confirmed her as the right person for this job. Her in-depth knowledge of her wide and varied remit is impressive and her open and approachable management style encourages ideas and innovation across her staff.

“I’d like to thank her for the leadership she’s shown during the pandemic and congratulate her on this appointment. I look forward to seeing the HSCP recover from COVID-19 and go from strength to strength under her guidance.”

Jane Grant, Chief Executive, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Susanne has held a number of senior posts within Glasgow City HSCP and made a huge contribution to shaping the long term strategy for the future of the HSCP, particularly during her role as Interim Chief Officer. I am confident she will continue this positive work, which will be crucial as the HSCP and NHSGGC continue to work together to shape the future of health and social care in the context of COVID-19 and beyond.”

Susanne took over the role of Chief Officer on an interim basis when her predecessor, David Williams, joined the Scottish Government on secondment for two years. David has now decided to retire from the council.