The new chairman of Kingston Healthwatch has promised to be fully independent after stepping into the job after 22 years working for Kingston Council.

Grahame Snelling, former head of prevention and integration in Kingston Council’s children’s services, was announced as the chairman of Healthwatch Kingston on Tuesday.

Mr Snelling’s post at the council was made redundant in March this year, following the release of the first damning Ofsted report which criticised Kingston’s child protection programme.

His new role will be heading up the organisation in charge of scrutinising health and social care run by the NHS, private firms and his former employers.

Mr Snelling, who is 59, and lives in Surbiton, declined to comment on the Ofsted report, although he said he would answer questions about the part his department played in the future, but said: “I am completely independent of the council.

"What I am most concerned about is to make sure there’s systems in place to represent the consumer’s voice.

"It is really important to make sure there is a strong independent voice in the community.

"The role of health watchdog is to bring to attention of the council and the NHS CCG there’s some independence and they have got to be listening and understanding."

Former health watchdog chairman Sandra Berry said she was delighted at Mr Snelling's appointment but warned he would have a “minefield” to negotiate.

She said: "Graham brings to the post an extensive knowledge of the workings of the social services department. 

"I am also confident that as a former senior employee of Kingston Council he will be well aware of the need for Healthwatch to remain totally independent in its work with the statutory health and social care services.

"It is to be regretted that Parkwood Healthcare Ltd and Kingston Council did not feel it necessary to contact any of the members of the former Steering Group about the work done by Healthwatch Kingston pathfinder or to involve them since April 2013. 

"There is a wealth of experience and information that would have been invaluable in setting up the new organisation rather than attempting to re-invent the wheel.

"I send every good wish to Graham, the Healthwatch staff and ultimately the new board in negotiating the minefield that is health and social care service provision in Kingston."

Councillor Geoff Austin, shadow member for children and young people, said: “I wouldn’t wish to pre-judge how he will perform.

“But he will have to prove to everybody that he is fully independent and not still agreeing with everything that the council wants.”

But Malcolm Alexander, chairman of the National Association of Links (which were axed to make way for Healthwatches), said: "The fact that the local authority [Kingston Council] funds Healthwatch and has effectively provided a member of staff to Healthwatch raises some very serious questions about whether local people will be able to trust the Healthwatch to be an independent watchdog."

He added: "I think it is appalling."

Clare Davis, operations manager at Parkwood Healthcare, says: “We are very pleased to have appointed a chair – the process took time but we wanted to be certain that we appointed the right person for what will be an important role.

"Grahame has the right mix of skills and insight into local social and health services and will be able to steer the organisation in the right direction."

Mr Snelling will now move to appoint fellow board members.

For more information visit www.healthwatchkingstonuponthames.org.uk