Richard Cienciala - Associate

Richard has over 30 years’ experience of developing and delivering policy and strategy for Ministers across a wide range of aspects of health and social care.

He has developed strategy (on food policy and commercial capability in the NHS) and led the government response to acute issues (medicines price spikes, business failures in the adult social care system).

He has also worked on cross-cutting social policy, including the Government’s approach to child poverty and shaping strategy on strengthening the link between better health and employment.

He has brought together diverse teams and worked in partnership with business, the voluntary sector, professional representatives, and experts. Combining strategic analysis, negotiation, management of complexity, and pace have been hallmarks of his career.

Recent positions

• Deputy Director for Operational Resilience in Adult Social Care
  Dept of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

• Deputy Director Adult Social Care Oversight
  Dept of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

• Deputy Director for Health Policy, Work and Health Unit
  A joint unit of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and DHSC

• Deputy Director and Head of the Child Poverty Unit
  A joint unit of the HM Treasury, DWP and the Department for Eduction

• Deputy Director for Obesity and Food Policy
  DHS

Core experience

• Developing and delivering evidence-based policy under media, political and time pressure

• Government and business collaboration on both developmental and crisis response work

• Working across government, aligning differing Ministerial interests

• Developing organisational strategy and putting in place implementation programmes

• Building and sustaining high performing teams with positive team culture