{"id":15178,"date":"2025-11-18T09:28:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T09:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/?p=15178"},"modified":"2025-11-20T11:23:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T11:23:14","slug":"the-accountable-officer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2025\/11\/18\/the-accountable-officer\/","title":{"rendered":"The Accountable Officer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cBe relentlessly optimistic. Because if you’re not, then who will be? I think one of the most important parts of being a good leader is about creating the conditions for optimism, hope, direction and opportunity, even in the darkest of times,\u201d Steve shared.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"SteveUniversity of Reading honorary graduate, Steve McManus, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust<\/a>. His incredible career in healthcare all began with a simple suggestion. When he left school Steve had no idea what he wanted to do, but whilst travelling around Australia a friend\u2019s dad \u2013 who was a doctor \u2013 told Steve he had \u201can innate sense of caring\u201d.<\/p>\n

This suggestion led Steve to secure a place at the Nightingale School of Nursing, where he qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1990. He shared: \u201cAs soon as I stepped through those doors in 1987, I fell in love with being a part of that world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steve sat down with CONNECTED to share more about his career, what he thinks it takes to be a good leader, and how it felt to receive an honorary degree from Reading.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all about people\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n

While working as a nurse in London and Oxford, Steve completed his BA Honours in Healthcare Studies at Oxford Brookes University, followed by a Postgraduate Certificate in Evidence-based Healthcare from the University of Oxford. In 2002 he moved into management and completed an MBA with Nottingham University Business School in 2006. Steve then held leadership roles at University Hospital Southampton, Imperial College Healthcare, and Basildon & Thurrock University Teaching Hospital, before taking up the position of Chief Executive Officer at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust (RBFT) in 2017.<\/p>\n

Steve explained what his current role at the RBFT involves. He said: \u201cI\u2019m responsible for the strategic direction of the hospital, and accountable for the quality of services we deliver to our patients, in partnership with the Trust Board. This includes making decisions about our finances. I hold the accountability for \u00a3660 million worth of public money, and I\u2019m acutely aware that every pound we spend needs to be used resourcefully.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cEven a number of years into the job some days it feels exhilarating, and then others it feels terrifying because of the accountability I\u2019m holding. But then I remember what a unique position I\u2019m in, and the influence I can have on both the organisation and people\u2019s day-to-day lives. It\u2019s an absolute privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As part of his role, Steve believes it is important to spend time working with staff on the ground across different parts of the organisation \u2013 whether that\u2019s with clinical teams on a ward, the porters or the catering team.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIt helps me to create the right conditions to enable our staff to do the best job they can. As an organisation we strive to be better than yesterday, and fundamentally how you do that is by working together. Your colleagues are instrumental to what kind of day you have and what you can achieve.<\/p>\n

\n

“Ultimately, it\u2019s all about people.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Developing the leaders of tomorrow<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Close-up,Striving to be a good leader is something which runs through Steve\u2019s veins. In 2016 he was selected to be part of the first cohort of the NHS Leadership Academy\u2019s Aspiring Chief Executive Programme<\/a>; in 2020 he was seconded to work with Baroness Dido Harding where he played two pivotal roles in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and in 2024 he embarked on the Executive Coaching Programme at Henley Business School (HBS)<\/a>. Steve said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been given a lot of chances in my career which has in turn shaped my own view of leadership, and I feel that a fundamental part of a management role is to provide mentorship, create opportunities for others, and continue to nurture leaders for our future.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“It\u2019s particularly important to achieve a greater level of equality and diversity in our senior leadership roles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflecting on his own experiences, Steve shares what he thinks it takes to be a good leader. He said: \u201c<\/strong>Be relentlessly optimistic. Because if you’re not, then who will be? I think one of the most important parts of being a good leader is about creating the conditions for optimism, hope, direction and opportunity, even in the darkest of times.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou also need to have the confidence to make decisions \u2013 even if 70% of them turn out to be the right ones and 30% of them turn out to be the wrong ones \u2013 as it\u2019s important to continue to advance your organisation, and the last thing I\u2019d say is be guided by your staff and service users.\u201d<\/p>\n

A pioneering partnership <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Steve has been instrumental in establishing formal links between the University and the RBFT to help improve patient care and clinical excellence through the\u00a0Health Innovation Partnership<\/a>. The partnership has seen the launch of a joint\u00a0Physician Associate Programme<\/a>; established 10 University Departments of Excellence within the hospital; shared teaching and learning resources \u2013 including the recently opened\u00a0Clinical Simulation and Training Suite<\/a>; and begun a pipeline of research that\u2019s directly benefitting patients.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cWe are starting to see the long-term impact that the partnership is having. It\u2019s drawing talented clinicians to the hospital because of the opportunity to contribute academically in terms of education and research, and the care we are now able to deliver is driving innovation within the sector.<\/p>\n

\n

“The two organisations have developed a relationship where the continuous search for improvement is a fundamental part of the partnerships DNA, and I\u2019m really proud of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Turning his thoughts to what he hopes to achieve with the partnership in the future, Steve said: \u201cI want to continue to build on our areas of strength whilst also creating new opportunities. I think one of the big things we\u2019re going to see over the next five years in healthcare settings is how digital clinical data can drive innovation within artificial intelligence, and my aspiration is for the partnership to be at the forefront of that work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor Parveen Yaqoob, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: \u201cSteve has been a driving force in the partnership. His vision has helped create a learning environment that is truly greater than the sum of its parts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advocating for continuous improvement<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Steve was recognised for his contributions towards healthcare and the Berkshire community with an honorary degree from the University of Reading in 2024, which he described as a lifetime highlight. He added: \u201cI am hugely humbled and endlessly thankful for receiving this degree. The honour is not for myself but for our amazing staff and volunteers at the RBFT, and our partners at the University. It shows the strength of the relationship the two organisations have developed and how far we’ve come over the last nine years.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt was very special to have my family, my colleagues and Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Van de Noort \u2013 who has become a friend over the years \u2013 there with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Professor Yaqoob who presented Steve with his honorary degree, said: \u201cSteve is an exemplary and compassionate leader, and an unwavering advocate for continuous improvement. He embodies the belief that there is always room for progress, always a way to serve patients better, and always an opportunity to elevate the team and the organisation as a whole. He thoroughly deserves this honorary degree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steve\u2019s advice for anyone looking to go into a career in leadership is simple: \u201cBe brave. It will have its challenges but its hugely rewarding. Develop your network and surround yourself with good people and support.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou will never forget the privilege that comes with a leadership role in terms of the ability you have to influence. The personal rewards of being in that position are huge, so never underestimate or forget that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cBe relentlessly optimistic. Because if you’re not, then who will be? I think one of the most important parts of being a good leader is about creating the conditions for optimism, hope, direction and opportunity, even in the darkest of times,\u201d Steve shared.\u00a0 University of Reading honorary graduate, Steve McManus, is the Chief Executive Officer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":15181,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,28,29,167,68,56],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Accountable Officer - Connected<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Steve McManus, CEO of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, shares his career journey and what he thinks it takes to be a good leader.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2025\/11\/18\/the-accountable-officer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Accountable Officer - 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