*Closes 25th March*
The Department for Communities wishes to appoint an Independent Member and is now seeking applications.
The Committee is an advisory body with an independent chairperson, two independent members and departmental officials responsible for providing the Department for Communities Deputy Secretary of Supporting People Group with assurance on social security and child maintenance standards of decision making and financial accuracy.
The Standards Committee has an advisory rather than executive role. The Committee’s objectives are to:
- provide assurance to the Deputy Secretary of Supporting People Group that effective decision-making checking procedures are in place;
- confirm legislation is properly applied;
- monitor and report performance against quality targets;
- identify common trends relating to the quality of decision making in Supporting People and Work and Health Groups and to highlight those areas where improvement is needed;
- make specific recommendations on any area considered appropriate;
- provide assurance to the Deputy Secretary of Supporting People Group that mechanisms are in place to feedback results to the Department to enable continuous improvement;
- report to the Deputy Secretary of Supporting People Group on the operation of the decision-making process and where necessary to make recommendations for changes to it. The Deputy Secretary should be free to meet the Chairperson informally and discuss issues that may arise during the year;
- provide the Deputy Secretary of Supporting People Group with an annual assurance in the form of reports on the quality of decision making in Supporting People and Work and Health Groups and such other reports as the Deputy Secretary or the Standards Committee considers appropriate; and
- provide assurance on the quality of decision making with the results of financial accuracy.
Applicants must have:
- a knowledge of the strategic issues affecting the Department for Communities social security and child maintenance business areas and the impact on service delivery;
- a knowledge of public opinion on social security and child maintenance matters;
- experience of working with the voluntary sector, community groups, trade unions or other groups which regularly represent customers in their dealings with the Department for Communities;
- experience of working with internal and external stakeholders to achieve organisational objectives; and
- an ability to articulate views clearly and concisely to inform discussion and decision making.
Applications are welcome from a wide range of people who have an interest in public service, including those who are looking for an opportunity to use their skills and experience. A Guaranteed Interview Scheme is in place for those applicants with a disability. You do not need to have previous experience of serving on a Board to apply.
Further information on the competition including the criteria for the positions can be found in the Candidate Information Booklet.
The closing date is 12 noon on 25 March 2024. Late applications will not be considered.
How to apply
We would request that you please send:
- a completed application form and
- equal opportunities monitoring form
via e-mail to Standards.Committee@DFCNI.gov.uk. If you are unable to return your completed forms via e-mail, and wish to either post or hand-deliver them, please advise the Department via the above e-mail address in advance or call Bernie McVey 0300 076 1421 or James Hood 0300 076 2402
Benefit Security, Business SupportLevel 5
Castle Court
Royal Avenue
Belfast
BT1 1HR
Appointment of an Independent Member to the Standards Committee – candidate information booklet
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
