SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Former Head of Drugs Policy at the Department of Health, John McCracken has been appointed by GambleAware as the Director of Commissioning (Treatment Services) as of 3 April 2018.
The role will involve leading, developing and evaluating services within the context of a public health approach, including engagement with the NHS and with primary care and social care.
Furthermore, GambleAware has outlined its ambition with the appointment to deliver a commissioned, efficient system to ensuring the maximum number of problem gamblers receive the correct level of intensity of treatment for their problem, and to promote best outcomes and system efficiency.
In his previous role, the new Director of Commissioning was responsible for the treatment of dependence on drugs, and for working with other Government Departments to develop the range of services available to meet individuals’ needs for wider support.
His earlier roles at the Department of Health included being Head of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. During two periods of secondment to the NHS, John was responsible for commissioning services for people with complex needs. He takes over from Dr Jane Rigbye, who has been appointed GambleAware’s Director of Education, a newly-created role.
Marc Etches, Chief Executive, commented: “John is an experienced, tenacious and collaborative senior leader with a proven track-record of delivering successful needs assessment, service planning and outcomes reporting that will enable us to adopt best practice commissioning effective treatment services. I am delighted with his appointment to the GambleAware team.”
