A system to improve recruitment within the National Health Service was launched last night by the NHS Confederation. NHS Executive Search is designed to help the service in England to place the right people in the right jobs by connecting thirteen executive search firms with health service organizations.It will make a project manager available to act as an interface between the NHS and each of the providers of search services. The system, which will be available for all NHS organizations and will provide advice and a broad range of services ranging from advertisements to assessment. The organisations involved have been selected for their expertise and innovative approach.

They will work closely with the NHS to help support ‘Managing for Excellence’, the drive to raise leadership and management standards across the health service. The system will also help health organisations make better use of executive search services to compete for talent in an increasingly competitive labour market.

Peter Mount, Chair of the NHS Confederation said, “Placing top talent within the NHS is not about crossing our fingers and hoping the talent will come to us.” He said NHS Executive Search would help health organisations ensure they recruited the right people, whether they were from within the NHS or from the wider public and private sectors.