New head of women and children’s services

THE Western Trust has appointed Kieran Downey as the new Executive Director of Social Work and Director of Women and Children’s Services.

Mr Downey has taken up this position with immediate effect to replace John Doherty who retired at the end of July 2012.

Kieran lives in Killyclogher, Omagh, Co Tyrone, and has worked in the health service for 30 years.

He initially trained as a teacher and subsequently qualified as a social worker. Kieran has worked in a variety of senior management posts before being appointed as Assistant Director of Children’s Mental Health and Disability services with the Western Trust in April 2007.

Through his career Kieran was instrumental in securing the first Charter Mark Award for day care services in Northern Ireland and was on the Expert Working Committee for the Bamford Review Group. He has most recently led in the development of the Western Trust Infant Mental Health Strategy.

Speaking about his appointment Mr Downey said: “I am delighted to be taking up this new role within the Women and Children’s Directorate and look forward to the challenge of continuing to provide high quality services to women and children in the Western Trust area.”

The Women and Children’s Directorate provides a comprehensive range of acute and community, health and social care services. In addition, it also has responsibility for public health and sexual health services.

The Directorate has three sub directorates which includes: family support; healthcare and children’s mental health and disability services.