Skip to main content

Social Security Tribunal: appointment of panel member [P.17/2020]

This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.

Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.

STATES OF JERSEY

r

SOCIAL SECURITY TRIBUNAL: APPOINTMENT OF PANEL MEMBER

Lodged au Greffe on 25th February 2020 by the Minister for Social Security

STATES GREFFE

2020  P.17

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

in accordance with Article 33A of the Social Security (Jersey) Law 1974 and further  to  a  process  overseen  by  the  Jersey  Appointments  Commission, to appoint Ms. June Summers-Shaw as a panel member of the Social Security Tribunal, for a period of 5 years.

MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY

REPORT

  1. Background

Article 8 of the Social Security (Determination of Claims and Questions) (Jersey) Order 1974 provides for the constitution of the Social Security Tribunal.

The Social Security Tribunal ("SST") has been in place since 1974, and hears appeals on a range of benefits under the Social Security (Jersey) Law 1974, as well aspects of other legislation administered by Customer and Local Services ("CLS") such as the Income Support (Jersey) Law 2007 and the Health Insurance (Jersey) Law 1967.

The Tribunal will review all facts placed before it by the Appellant and the Minister for Social Security and may confirm, reverse or vary the decision made by the CLS determining officers.

The constitution of the Social Security Tribunal comprises a Chair (or Deputy Chair) holding a qualification in law, and 2 lay members from a panel of up to 12 other members.

This report recommends the appointment of a panel member.

  1. Tribunals

The Minister is responsible for the constitution of 3 different Tribunal panels, the Social Security Medical Appeal Tribunal ("SSMAT"), the Social Security Tribunal ("SST") and the Income Support Medical Appeal Tribunal ("ISMAT"). In consultation with the Judicial Greffe,  who are responsible for the  convening and  administration of the Tribunals, the role of Chair was developed across all 3 Tribunals to ensure consistency of process and decision-making, and supporting the further development of a Tribunals Service. The same principle is being applied, as appropriate, to Deputy Chairs and panel members, ensuring a stronger pool available for each Tribunal.

  1. Terms of appointment

The Social Security (Determination of Claims and Questions) (Jersey) Order 1974 provides  that  members  of  the  Tribunal  are  appointed  by  the  States  on  the recommendation  of  the  Minister  after  consultation  with  the  Jersey  Appointments Commission, and in line with the Appointments Commission's Code for Quangos and Tribunals.

The Minister therefore recommends the appointment of Ms. June Summers-Shaw for a term of 5 years.

The Minister is confident that this individual will uphold the fairness and integrity of the tribunal system.

  1. Panel member of the Social Security Tribunal proposed for appointment

Ms. June Summers-Shaw is a qualified and experienced lecturer and employment law adviser working in the public and private sectors. As a lecturer she worked within the area of Special Educational Needs.

Page - 3

P.17/2020

In 2001 she established, with a colleague, the Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service ("JACS"), and as a result is an experienced mediator.

Ms. Summers-Shaw  was  for  many  years  an  Assessor/  Verifier  for  management qualifications for the States of Jersey, sat on the Health and Safety Committee within the  Social  Security  Department,  and  was  the  representative  for  the  Education Department on the Human Rights Advisory Panel.

As a former foster-carer, she sat from 2012 until 2016 as a member of, and then the Chair of, the Fostering Panel, also sitting occasionally on the Adoption Panel.

  1. Financial and manpower implications

There are no financial or manpower implications for the States arising from the adoption of this Proposition.