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Government’s Chief Executive offers learnings from time in office

​Yesterday, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) held a Public Hearing with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Government of Jersey, Suzanne Wylie. The hearing marks the last Public Hearing of her term in office. The Committee questioned the CEO in relation to its reviews on Performance Management, the Governance of Health and Social Care, and also on the lessons learned from the year and a half she has spent in the role.

In relation to the Governance of Health and Social Care, the Committee heard:

• Significant work is needed to improve clinical and financial outcomes in Jersey's healthcare system. The CEO said this was an area of particular concern for her during her time in office.  

• The turnaround team was set up with three objectives: to improve assurance around governance in health, to improve recruitment and to improve financial management systems. The CEO told the PAC that the establishment of a new Advisory Board for Health and Community services, approved by the States Assembly on 13 June, was 'absolutely essential' to building on these goals. The PAC expressed concern around the process of improving clinical outcomes moving forward, given the new Advisory Board is not yet in action.

• A significant overspend of 20 million pounds or more is predicted for this year, primarily driven by temporary staff costs, difficulties in recruiting and less income coming in from private patients.

The Committee ended the hearing with questions as to the challenges and successes of Ms Wylie's time as CEO. They heard:

• Some of the biggest challenges have resulted from the systems for support around the role of the CEO not being mature enough, which Ms Wylie said was a reflection mirrored by former CEO Charlie Parker in his closing report. She added that getting to know the Government of Jersey system at the outset was challenging, but hopes to help the new CEO navigate this complexity during her handover.

• Ms Wylie also pointed to risk management across government as an area of serious concern when she entered her role, however admitted she is 'proud' of the significant improvements that have been made over the past year in this area.

Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: 'The PAC is grateful to the Chief Executive Officer for her open and transparent answers to our questions, as well as for her work as CEO during her time in office. We have heard from the CEO that risk mitigation across different departments, particularly in Health and Community Services, is an area where we need to make some serious improvements. The PAC will be monitoring closely to ensure the correct measures are put in place to make sure this happens. Likewise, Ms Wylie's comments as to where she feels there can be improvements made to the role of CEO were welcome. We will continue to monitor the recruitment process for the new CEO in the hope that these suggestions are taken into account.'  

A full recording of the public hearing can be watched here