A MENTAL health trust has begun advertising for a new chief executive to replace its current incumbent who retires in April.

Martin Barkley, chief executive of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, announced in January he was stepping down after leading the organisation for the past eight years.

Mr Barkley, who has spent 43 years in the NHS, said it had been the “best job I have ever had”, but the time had arrived for a change.

Three years ago he was at the centre of a pay row after it emerged he had been given a £27,000 pay rise by trust bosses, bringing his total salary package to £180,000.

At the time officials from the Royal College of Nursing criticised the move and said it was “nothing short of staggering”.

But its then chairman Jo Turnbull praised Mr Barkley’s “outstanding leadership” and said his salary was still less than many comparable mental health trusts.

According to the trust, key requirements of the new post holder will include inspirational leadership and successful experience of a large complex healthcare organisation at board level.

The trust, which has an annual budget of more than £300m and 6,700 staff, provides mental health, learning disability and eating disorders services to about two million people living in County Durham, the Tees Valley and large swathes of North Yorkshire.

Last year it received an overall ‘good’ rating from watchdog the Care Quality Commission.

The chief executive’s post, which will be based at West Park Hospital, in Darlington, is advertised with a “competitive salary”.

When The Northern Echo asked what the successful applicant would be paid, a trust spokeswoman said: “The salary range for the role of chief executive is still to be agreed by the chairman and non-executive directors.”