Ingram announces re-appointments of SSSC Convener and Council members

Minister for Children and Early Years, Adam Ingram, today announced the re-appointment of the Convener and five members to the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

Convener

Garry Coutts runs a training company offering media and other communications skills courses to clients in the public, private and voluntary sectors. He is also the Chair of Highland NHS Board, a part time Ministerial appointment which attracts a salary of £28,280 a year.

Mr Coutts was previously an elected councillor with Edinburgh District Council and Highland Council, where he held several senior positions including Chair of the Housing and Social Work committee. He resigned as a councillor in 2004. He brings to the Council a wealth of professional and organisational management experience in the delivery of public, voluntary and private sector services.

Members

Elizabeth Carmichael – prior to retirement, Ms Carmichael was Head of Community Justice Services, a senior civil servant position, with the then Scottish Executive. She was responsible for policy on management of offenders, community sentences and supervision and framework for delivering criminal justice social work services working with the Scottish Prison Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. She has also worked in the voluntary sector, finance, education and health. She brings to the Council her knowledge of policy development and strategic direction within the diverse field of social services. She does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.

Maureen O’Neill worked primarily in the voluntary sector for 25 years. Previously, she was Director of Age Concern Scotland and Director of RBS Centre for the Older Person’s Agenda at Queen Margaret University. She recently completed her term of office as a non executive Director of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. She is currently a Scottish appointee to the European Economic and Social Committee, which adds a valuable perspective to the Council’s work and also Director of Faith in Older People, a voluntary organisation concerned with the spiritual well-being of older people. She brings to the Council her previous knowledge and experience of the work of boards, committees and other representative bodies.

Kingsley Thomas is employed currently as Manager of Criminal Legal Assistance with Scottish Legal Aid Board. Previously, he was an elected councillor with the City of Edinburgh Council from May 1992 to 2007 and non Executive Director of NHS Lothian from 2001 to 2007. He also chaired Lothian and Borders Community Justice Authority and the Edinburgh South Community Justice Authority and Edinburgh South Community Health Partnership from 2005 to 2007. He brings to the Council his experience in senior local government management and finance. He does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.

Michael Cairns worked in social work as both a practitioner and manager. He previously held Director posts in Age Concern Scotland and RNIB Scotland. He was also seconded to the then Scottish Executive for three years to assist in a review of community eye care services. Mr Cairns is now a freelance consultant, specialising in the organisation of services for people with visual impairments. He brings the perspective of a practitioner, awareness of service users’ needs and knowledge of boards, committees and other representative bodies. He does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.

Karen Croan is an HR professional with 20 years experience in HR and organisational development at senior level within care and health sector. She is currently HR Director of Quarriers, following 15 years working in the NHS. Ms Croan is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Psychology Honours graduate. She brings to the Board a wealth of professional management experience in the field of Human Resources, and knowledge of the work of boards, committees and other representative bodies. She does not hold another other Ministerial appointments.

Terms of Appointment

Mr Coutts, Ms Carmichael, Ms O’Neill and Mr Thomas are re-appointed for three years from September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2013. Mr Cairns and Ms Croan are re-appointed for two years from September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2012.

The varying lengths of the re-appointments will allow for effective succession planning and the retention of high level experience within the SSSC, while providing flexibility within the appointment process. In making these re-appointments, Mr Ingram has determined that those members of the Council whose terms of office are due to end in 2011 should not be replaced, reducing the overall number of appointments and recruitment costs. The membership of the Council will be subject to a further review in 2012, when new members are due to be appointed.

Remuneration

The Convener post is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £24,648 a year for a minimum time commitment of two days per week.

The Member posts are also part-time and attract a remuneration of £8,221.80 per annum for a minimum time commitment of five days per month.

The SSSC is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body established under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. It is responsible for improving the quality of social services and protecting the public by strengthening and supporting the professionalism of the workforce and raising standards of practice through regulation. The social services workforce covers more than 138,000 people.

The SSSC has an annual budget of around £9.3 million, which includes its running costs. Further information can be obtained from the SSSC web site www.sssc.uk.com or by writing to Scottish Social Services Council, Compass House, Discovery Quay, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY.

These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland’s Code of Practice.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.

Kingsley Thomas has declared he was an elected Labour councillor to City of Edinburgh Council from 1992 until 2007. Michael Cairns, Elizabeth Carmichael, Karen Croan and Maureen O’Neill have declared no political activity within the last five years.