The Children’s Social Care Services Strategic Reform Programme is seeking to deliver reform within children’s social care services to address a range of known service challenges, particularly in relation to the increasing volume and complexity of child and family case work.
Representatives from the VCS were invited to make applications and nominate representatives to a number of available positions and workstreams, which included membership of the Programme Board and Co-Chair of the Family Support Workstream.
Following an open call, the application and selection process was managed by NICVA, on behalf of the Department of Health.
SELECTION PANEL
The Selection Panel included two NICVA Executive Committee Members - Patricia Lewsley-Mooney CBE (Chair of the Training Network for Women) and Briege Arthurs (CEO Forward South Partnership), and was chaired by Marc Baille (Head of Family Policy Unit for the Department of Health).
A total of 44 applications were assessed against a selection criteria provided by the Department of Health throughout February, and after more than 20 hours, the Selection Panel made their recommendations to the Department of Health.
APPOINTMENT DECISIONS
The final decision on all appointments and the creation of reserve lists for each available position was made by the Chair of the Programme Board and all applicants were notified of the outcome on 26 March 2024.
Peter Toogood, the SRO for the Programme Board said about the appointments:
“Given the extent to which voluntary and community sector works with and supports children and families in Northern Ireland, it is critical that the sector is part of the effort to deliver much needed reform. Our ultimate aim is to improve outcomes for children and families and to better support families to remove the need for statutory intervention and I am confident those appointed will have much to offer.”
Click here for the list of Appointed VCS Representatives
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
The Selection Panel took a collaborative approach from the beginning of the process, with a clear consensus and understanding around all of the recommendations.
Commenting on the process, Celine McStravick, CEO for NICVA said:
“NICVA was delighted to facilitate this important piece of work for the Department of Health and thanks must go to our Executive Committee Members, who generously gave up their time to ensure a fair, open, and transparent process. The shared expertise and knowledge around the table was invaluable, and from the outset there was a collaborative approach to how all of the recommendations were made. This has proved to be a good model for any future engagement around VCS recruitment.”
Further Information
For any further information about the Children’s Social Care Services Strategic Reform Programme and the work of the Board please email: [email protected]
