Rami on his appointment as CEO

Having been with the organisation for just over a year as Director of Transformation and Innovation, I know that CHAS is a truly magical organisation. Three children a week die from a life-shortening condition in Scotland, and CHAS wants to be there for all of them. Our mission is to keep the joy alive for even more families across Scotland. We will do that by working in close partnership with the Scottish Government, local government, the NHS and the Scottish public - something I am wholeheartedly committed to. As Chief Executive, I will work in an open and inclusive way to make sure every employee, volunteer and supporter is proud to be part of the CHAS family. Every single member of this team provides or enables outstanding care in hospices, children's homes, hospitals, and in communities - day in, day out and I cannot emphasise how much this is appreciated by the children and families in whose journeys we walk.

As we grow and we reach more families, there are four leadership themes that I will champion as Chief Executive. First and foremost, I will continue CHAS's relentless focus on the experiences for children and families; making sure that our care remains outstanding, that children have the best experiences, and that we involve families more in decisions about their care and about CHAS. I also want to ensure that CHAS is everywhere. This means investing in our two amazing hospices but also being alongside families in hospital and at home, closer partnership working with NHS, local authority and charity partners, and expanding the range of CHAS support in children's own homes. I want to continue to consolidate excellence in all that we do; of course in our care, but also so that all our functions are the best they can be and last but by no means least, support everyone in the CHAS team. This includes staff and volunteers; making sure people are well at work and supported in caring for a dying child, and have excellent development opportunities.

I also want to take this time to say, Maria's legacy will live on at CHAS. I'm thrilled to be succeeding such a wonderful person who I deeply respect and admire. Maria has been instrumental in guiding the organisation through significant change which has seen the charity expand to meet an increasing demand for its services. Over the months ahead, Maria and I will be working very closely on a smooth transition, including preparing the CHAS Plan for 2020-2023. I look forward to working with each and every member of the CHAS community in the months and years ahead. Together we will do amazing things for children and families, and help keep the joy alive.

About Rami:

Rami is currently the Director of Transformation and Innovation at CHAS, working to develop new models of care and reach more families.

In 2018, Rami was the Executive Director of Strategy and Improvement at the Care Inspectorate, Scotland's largest scrutiny and improvement body. There, he led the Care Inspectorate's emergence as an improvement support body, and directed modernisation of scrutiny methodology, intelligence, organisational development, corporate reporting, and involving people who experience care. He co-led the development of the Scottish Government's Health and Social Care Standards, working with people who use and provide care to ensure these are based on human rights and wellbeing. He chaired the Scottish Government's reporting and monitoring group for implementing the duty of candour across health and social services, and the programme board for the development of national safer recruitment guidance in social care.

Rami is appointed as a member of the Scotland Committee for the Equality and Human Rights Commission. He is a trustee of Luminate, Scotland's creative ageing arts charity. Before joining the Care Inspectorate in 2013, he worked in public affairs, communications, policy development, and as a trade union officer representing teachers in the workplace.