A new chief officer of health and social care in Inverclyde has been appointed.

Kate Rocks will head up Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) from early August.

The new chief officer will join from East Renfrewshire HSCP where she is currently head of public protection/children’s services and chief social work officer.

Ms Rocks replaces Louise Long as the next permanent chief officer after Ms Long was appointed chief executive of Inverclyde Council in September 2021.

The HSCP’s head of health and community care, Allen Stevenson, has been an interim chief officer since then.

Kate Rocks said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be offered the post of chief officer for Inverclyde HSCP.

“Inverclyde is a place where at the heart of it is the people and it is the people who are its most important asset.

“The vision for health and social care services from the council and health board through the HSCP is to recover from the harm of the pandemic and continue to build on the good work already being done in Inverclyde.

“I will endeavour to support staff to do that and in keeping with the core values, particularly being kind and compassionate for which Inverclyde already has a proud reputation for.”

Louise Long, chief executive of Inverclyde Council, said: “I am pleased to announce that Kate Rocks has been appointed as the new chief officer of Inverclyde HSCP.

“She is an experienced leader and well-known for delivering high-quality health and social care services.

“Kate brings with her a wealth of knowledge and a real commitment to innovating and creating services that help people to flourish.”

Jane Grant, chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “I am very much looking forward to working with Kate in her new role as chief officer.

“Kate will be a great asset to the HSCP team and local Inverclyde community as we continue our efforts to provide the very best in health and social care.”

Ms Rocks has been head of public protection/children’s services and chief social work officer at East Renfrewshire since 2014.

Prior to that, Ms Rocks spent nine years in North Lanarkshire working in senior positions in social work, children and families and localities.

The new Inverclyde HSCP chief officer has also had roles in local government in South Lanarkshire, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and the City of Westminster during her career.

Ms Rocks will take up post in early August.