Daycare Trust and Family and Parenting Institute to merge

Chief executive of the Daycare Trust, Anand Shukla, will lead the organisation from January 2013, when a new name and brand for the charity will be launched.

Katherine Rake, currently chief executive of the Family and Parenting Institute, is stepping down to become the first director of Healthwatch England.

Shukla, who has led the Daycare Trust since 2010, said the new organisation would work with government and employers to promote the needs of families with a particular focus on childcare.

“I am very excited by the opportunity of leading the combined work of two organisations which have such a significant track record in campaigning for childcare and families, and which have both succeeded in securing concrete improvements in policy and service delivery,” he said.

The first public meeting of Healthwatch England will meanwhile take place in Leeds today (5 December). The meeting will bring together members of the organisation's committee to decide where Healthwatch England should focus its resources from 2013. 
 
Anna Bradley, chair of Healthwatch England, said: “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Katherine Rake to Healthwatch England. Katherine brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to an already impressive team.

“I look forward to working closely on building our priorities as an organisation and making a real difference to consumers and users of health and care services.”