Lesley Maslen to step down as Executive Director of Professional Regulation

Lesley has led one of the NMC’s most complex and important functions – including Fitness to Practise (FtP) – through a period of significant challenge, transformation and improvement, consistently maintaining a focus on public protection, regulatory excellence and better outcomes for those who use the regulator’s services.

Lesley Maslen, Executive Director of Professional Regulation, said:

“It has been a privilege to lead Professional Regulation at the NMC over the past four years. When I joined the organisation, improving the timeliness of Fitness to Practise post-pandemic was an urgent priority.

“It’s also been important to improve people’s experience of the Fitness to Practise process. We’ve established a specialised team to support vulnerable registrants and witnesses, we’ve improved our initial contact with registrants referred to us, and we’ve successfully trialled new ways of working to deliver faster decisions and a more supportive experience for registrants with health needs.

“I’m also proud to have sponsored a replacement case system for the NMC, which is a critical enabler of the organisation’s wider technology and service transformation.

“There’s more to do to deliver a timely, fair and compassionate process but I leave with confidence in the NMC’s determination to keep learning, protect the public and treat everyone involved in Fitness to Practise with fairness and humanity.”

Paul Rees MBE, Chief Executive and Registrar, said:

“Since joining the NMC, Lesley has made an exceptional contribution to our organisation, our colleagues and ultimately to the millions of people who rely on us to regulate nurses, midwives and nursing associates effectively.

“She has led one of the NMC's most complex and important functions through a period of significant challenge, transformation and improvement, consistently maintaining a focus on public protection, regulatory excellence and better outcomes for those who use our services.

“As Executive Director of Professional Regulation, Lesley has been responsible for leading the teams that sit at the heart of the NMC's public protection mission. Her leadership, expertise and determination have helped drive improvements across Professional Regulation and Fitness to Practise, while supporting the organisation through a period of substantial change and reform.

“On behalf of Council, the Executive Board and colleagues across the NMC, I would like to thank Lesley for everything she has achieved and wish her every success, happiness and fulfilment for the future.”

Transitional leadership arrangements

Richard Cartland, Executive Director of Transformation and Technology Services, will take on the role of Acting Executive Director of Professional Regulation while recruitment to the permanent position takes place.

Since joining the NMC in spring last year, alongside Lesley, Richard has led on the modernisation work of Fitness to Practise, working closely alongside Lesley to help ensure that Fitness to Practise becomes fit for the future, He has extensive operational leadership experience, over a number of decades, having led complex and large-scale change across the technology and media sectors.

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